1000 referrals mark milestone in innovative Heart Health Support Service
This Virtual Care Awareness Week (27 – 31 October), WA Country Health Service’s innovative approach to virtual care has reached another hearty milestone – 1000 referrals made to the Heart Health Support Service (HHSS).
The Heart Health Support Service was introduced in the Wheatbelt in October 2022 as a pilot program and expanded into the South West in early 2023 and then to the Goldfields areas of Esperance and Norseman in 2024.
Since that time, the service has steadily grown to reach this impressive milestone, providing outpatient care to 1000 country residents who would otherwise have needed to travel for clinical appointments.
Impressively, in the past 12 months, the service has averaged over 100 new referrals per quarter.
Every year, 43 per cent of cardiac events are a repeat occurrence. Cardiac rehab reduces that recurrence by helping people understand their condition and manage their risk factors.
The service is helping people like Wheatbelt resident Liz to access specialist care without needing to travel long distances.
After she was discharged from hospital following a heart attack and diagnosis of heart failure, Liz was referred to the HHSS for further support and management.
“It hasn’t always been easy as my symptoms can present abnormally but working with the HHSS team has allowed me to be more informed when it comes to my health,” Liz said.
“I’ve lived in Augusta, and I recently moved to York, which has been a great change, but it has been even better knowing I have a service like this available to me locally.”
As a registered nurse herself for 40 years, Liz, now retired, was grateful to the team for making her feel well looked after.
“HHSS Clinical Nurse Toni Payne spent time helping me to understand my conditions, medications and gave me information to help monitor my symptoms.
“It’s been really reassuring and given me confidence to know my health is in good hands.”
Margaret River GP Dr Fintan Andrews said the service was also providing reassurance for clinicians that patients were receiving holistic care.
“The real benefit to rural doctors like me is the ready access to information,” Dr Andrews said.
“Particularly in terms of complex cases, it can save a lot of time, which is really helpful.
“It also provides a sense of comfort knowing that a follow up with the patient is being organised.”
To access the service patients can seek a referral from their GP or healthcare provider. For more information contact: wachs.hearthealthsupport@health.wa.gov.au
Follow along this Virtual Care Awareness Week (27 – 31 October) as WA Country Health Service celebrates the stories and advances in innovation that are delivering, and improving, high-quality care to country communities.