NSW Health has always supported the Northern NSW Integrated Care partnership to implement innovative, locally led models of Integrated Care.
This support has allowed LHDs across the state to trial new ways of working to deliver care and address the needs of the community.
NSW Health is now working with LHDs to scale up effective care initiatives and make care more widely available. Across NSW, five evidence based initiatives have been shortlisted.
- Vulnerable Families
- Specialist Outreach to Primary Care
- Emergency Departments to Community
- Residential Aged Care
- Paediatrics Network
All five proposed initiatives focus on improving outcomes for vulnerable and at-risk populations and people with complex health and social needs in primary and community care where possible and appropriate. The outcomes of the scaled initiatives will provide benefits for patients and staff, and contribute to NSW Health’s Quadruple Aim.
NNSW LHD has chosen to focus on the area of vulnerable families, to support the children of those who are living with chronic conditions and have complex care needs.
The Integrated Care Vulnerable Families (IC VF) initiative is an intensive care coordination intervention for families where the parents or carers have complex health and social needs, and who have at least one child unborn to 17 years of age
This cohort are likely to experience barriers to engagement with the health system and other social services including Education and Family and Community Services, and often have multiple complex conditions.