The Specialist Outpatient Strategy: Improving the patient journey by 2020 has helped reduce the number of people waiting longer than clinically recommended for a specialist outpatient appointment.
Recently released data shows the number of patients waiting has fallen from 104,000 to 38,000 - a reduction of 63 per cent.
Deputy Director-General Clinical Excellence Division Dr John Wakefield said his division had responsibility for developing and implementing most of the initiatives outlined in the strategy in partnership with stakeholders including Queensland's 16 Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) and Primary Health Networks (PHNs). "These initiatives bridge the information gap between the primary sector and public hospitals, and will ultimately result in improved outcomes for patients who will experience a more streamlined health journey."
One of the key elements of the Specialist Outpatient Strategy is the development of a statewide integrated referral management solution or iRMS. "The iRMS program will provide GPs and other referrers with rapid, real-time access to referral information at any point in the referral pathway. It is revolutionising healthcare in Queensland by allowing those involved in patient care to better manage and optimise the patient journey, improve patient safety and reduce specialist outpatient wait times," Dr Wakefield said.
He said patients could expect a more streamlined journey through the health system and greater control over their healthcare. "The referral lodgement and tracking service component of iRMS will give patients greater visibility of their referral and expected waited time."
Better connecting Queensland GPs and public hospitals is another deliverable under the Specialist Outpatient Strategy which provides GPs with access to Queensland Health's clinical information program The Viewer through a secure online portal. "It enables GPs to make more appropriate clinical decisions about a patient's ongoing care and treatment because they know more about them and the care they have received in hospital. There is less onus on the patient to communicate what their hospital treating team has done and said, as their GP can access the information at their fingertips," Dr Wakefield said. He said better integrated care was also thought to reduce duplicate patient testing and avoidable hospital re-admissions.
The Specialist Outpatient Strategy can be viewed in full online.
