The innovative outreach program to Latrobe Regional Health by the Hamilton Centre’s clinical partners at Eastern Health has demonstrated the importance of enhancing connections between metropolitan and regional health services in order to address service gaps and better meet client needs.

During the pilot, Hamilton Centre Clinical Partners from Eastern Health conducted onsite clinics at Latrobe Regional Health’s community mental health centre.

Access to specialist services is incredibly valuable but much more challenging in regional and rural contexts,” says Sally Chin, Hamilton Centre Eastern Health Clinical Lead.

By enhancing communication, understanding, and integration between metropolitan and regional healthcare services, the program was able to provide more cohesive and responsive care for patients with co-occurring mental health and addiction problems in the Gippsland area.

The eagerness and value with which Latrobe Regional Health responded to our pilot demonstrate the potential such a model has in fostering integrated care improvements more broadly,” Ms Chin says.

Local context understanding

By engaging directly with the local community and healthcare providers, the team was able to build a valuable understanding of the local healthcare landscape and social context.

According to the clinicians involved in the pilot project, this insight was vital for tailoring integrated care recommendations that are feasible and relevant to the specific needs of patients in the Gippsland area.

Integration of care

The outreach focused on improving integrated care delivery by ensuring that the recommendations and services provided by the Hamilton Centre were informed by the realities of local healthcare resources and community needs.

In-person connections

By fostering in-person connections, the program demonstrated how the challenges that arise due to gaps between metropolitan services and regional/rural health services can be overcome.

This is crucial for building trust and improving collaboration between health service providers.

Advocating and collaborating

In addition to supporting the delivery of integrated clinical care within the region, the pilot project demonstrated the critical importance of advocating and collaborating with regional and rural stakeholders.

According to the clinicians involved in the pilot, this advocacy and partnership, facilitated through in-person engagements, was instrumental in building capacity and fostering positive change. It also cultivated curiosity from regional clinicians about the best ways to address the needs of individuals living with co-occurring disorders.

Overall, the pilot program successfully enhanced communication, understanding, and integration between metropolitan and regional healthcare services, which enabled much-needed cohesive and responsive care for patients in the Gippsland area.