Aim:

To provide equitable access to Supportive & Palliative Care out-patient consultations for patients living in rural and remote areas of the Local Health District

Background:

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Supportive & Palliative Care service is responsible for providing specialist palliative care to people living in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Penrith Local Government Areas (LGA) and covers 9,179 square kilometers.

Supportive & Palliative Care Consultant out-patient clinics are provided at Nepean Cancer Care Centre Penrith, Hawkesbury hospital and Lemongrove community health Centre, Penrith. 

The LGA of Lithgow is geographically the furthest point from the Supportive & Palliative Care out-patient clinics and patients have a 200-kilometre roundtrip to access these clinics in person.

Design:

In November 2020 a Supportive & Palliative Care out-patient clinic was established at Lithgow hospital.

The clinic has a blended approach with the Nurse Practitioner being present with the patient in the clinic and the Palliative Care Consultant attending the consultation via video-link. The setting allows for physical examination, provision of prescriptions, and improves rapport with face-to-face contact.

Clinicians received training from the Telehealth department on the use of the virtual technology and attended workshops on leading conversations in the virtual space and appropriate etiquette.

Educational sessions, promotional information and the referral process was provided to referrers.

Conclusion:

The establishment of the clinic has improved the equity of service for rural and remote patients to be able to access the Supportive & Palliative Care service and has reduced both staff and patient travel time.