Spillover effects from a type 2 diabetes integrated model of care in 22,706 Australians: an open cohort stepped wedge trial.

Background: Many Australian adults are not receiving timely or effective diabetes management to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes related complications. Integrated care, a worldwide trend in healthcare reform, aims to reduce the fragmented delivery of health services and improve outcomes. This study aimed to test whether a specialist-led integrated model of care provided to a small subset of patients in general practices leads to spillover clinical improvements in all patients of the practice with type 2 diabetes.

Australian general practitioners' perspectives on integrating specialist diabetes care with primary care: qualitative study.

Background: Improving the coordination and integration of health services is recognised nationally and internationally as a key strategy for improving the quality of diabetes care. The Australian Diabetes Alliance Program (DAP) is an integrated care model implemented in the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD), New South Wales (NSW), in which endocrinologists and diabetes educators collaborate with primary care teams via case-conferencing, practice performance review, and education sessions. The objective of this study was to report on general practitioners' (GPs) perspectives on DAP and whether the program impacts on their skills, knowledge, and approach in delivering care to adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

Using the AUSDRISK score to screen for pre-diabetes and diabetes in GP practices: a case-finding approach.

Objective: To identify the optimal AUSDRISK threshold score to screen for pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Methods: A total of 406 adult patients not diagnosed with diabetes were screened in General Practices (GP) between May and October 2019. All patients received a point of care (POC) HbA1c test.

"They were all together … discussing the best options for me": Integrating specialist diabetes care with primary care in Australia.

Over one-third of diabetes-related encounters with healthcare providers in Australia fail to meet clinical guidelines. Evidence is mounting that care provision within an integrated framework may facilitate greater adherence to clinical guidelines and improved outcomes for patients. The Diabetes Alliance Program was implemented across a large healthcare district to enhance diabetes care capacity at the primary care level through intensive case-conferencing involving the primary care team, patients and visiting specialist team, whole practice performance review and regular diabetes education for practitioners.

Hunter and New England Diabetes Alliance: innovative and integrated diabetes care delivery in general practice.

Evidence-based standardised diabetes care is difficult to achieve in the community due to resource limitations, and lack of equitable access to specialist care leads to poor clinical outcomes. This study reports a quality improvement program in diabetes health care across a large health district challenged with significant rural and remote geography and limited specialist workforce. An integrated diabetes care model was implemented, linking specialist teams with primary care teams through capacity enhancing case-conferencing in general practice supported by comprehensive performance feedback with regular educational sessions.