Oral Presentation Australian Diabetes Society and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association Annual Scientific Meeting 2014

Collaboration - A Pathway for service delivery in Rural Communities (#87)

Shirley Cornelius 1
  1. Great Southern Population Health, Albany, WA, Australia

Diabetes education is a specialty field of practice and is a specific intervention of diabetes management and care. Service planning is complicated by: issues related to staff recruitment and retention, changing service providers, many services, programs and funders in public, private and nongovernment settings. The ”system” in which care is provided is loosely organised, where we are often dealing with ad hoc and relationship-based pathways for referral.                                                                                                                              

Access to diabetes care varies considerably according to the individuals diabetes type and complexity and by service type, setting and location. Service availability differs significantly by region. People with diabetes find it hard to source entry points into the care system

Our Aim is to:
Minimise preventable hospitalisations and unplanned emergency presentations.                       
Improve access for clients to appropriate and coordinated health care in local communities and support clients in a self-management approach.                                             
Collaboration between services is the key.