Oral Presentation Australian Diabetes Society and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association Annual Scientific Meeting 2017

Rural Nurse Practitioner telehealth model Improving access to metropolitan specialist services for children with diabetes (#76)

Barbie Sawyer 1 , Alison Aston 1 , Elaine Tham 2 , Jane Giles 3 , Kylie Bailey 1
  1. South East Regional Community Health Services, Mount Gambier, SA, Australia
  2. Endocrine, Womens and Childrens Hospital , Adelaide , South Australia, Australia
  3. Diabetes Service, Country Health SA, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Introduction

 

Children with type 1 diabetes and their families living in rural SA have historically travelled to Adelaide 4 times a year to access their specialist service. The tyranny of distance and travel expectations is a significant barrier for some families and has seen children go without the timely access to specialist services currently outlined in the clinical practice guidelines.

 

Objective

To develop a model of care that improves access for rural children with type 1 diabetes and their families to metropolitan based specialist services

 

Method

3 monthly telehealth video-conferencing clinics are undertaken with the paediatric endocrinologist from the Women’s and Children’s Hospital endocrine unit. All pre consultation work up is undertaken locally and securely transmitted to the specialist. Follow up medication adjustments are undertaken locally with the diabetes nurse practitioner. Local support from Paediatrician is integrated into the service

 

Results

More than 180 videoconferencing consultations have been conducted since commencing the service in October 2013. The service has successfully facilitated and improved access to metropolitan based endocrinology services. Evaluation undertaken with the families has been very positive with high level of satisfaction. For example; there is strong support for continuation of service, families also identified significant financial and time savings.

 

  1. Craig ME, Twigg SM, Donaghue KC, Cheung NW, Cameron FJ, Conn J, Jenkins AJ, Silink M, for the Australian Type 1 Diabetes Guidelines Expert Advisory Group. National evidence‐based clinical care guidelines for type 1 diabetes in children, adolescents and adults, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra 2011.