Reducing emergency department presentations among chronically ill patients in Western Sydney: a key role for coordinated primary care.

Coordination of health services is thought to improve health outcomes for patients with chronic and complex illness; however, there is limited quantitative evidence for the effectiveness of coordinated care programs. HealthOne Mount Druitt (HOMD) is a coordinated care program operating in a disadvantaged area of Western Sydney, Australia. It operates as a combination 'virtual' and 'hub and spoke' model, with care coordination provided by liaison nurses.

Role of the GP liaison nurse in a community health program to improve integration and coordination of services for the chronically ill.

This paper explores the role of the General Practitioner Liaison Nurse (GPLN) in improving integration and coordination of services within Primary Health Care. This position can play a major role in care coordination and cultural change. The GPLN within HealthOne Mt Druitt (HOMD) identifies patients' needs and facilitates communication, case conferencing and care coordination between health and other providers.