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Our Vision

Contribute to an effective and sustainable rural and remote health system

 Stroke

 

The NSW Rural Stroke Project commenced in March 2006 with the appointment of a Project Officer.

The Project Officer position was for two years and was completed on 7th March 2008.

The project was funded through the NSW Institute of Rural Clinical Services and Teaching (IRCST) and was undertaken in partnerships with the Australasian Stroke Unit Network and Hunter New England Health.

A key factor of the project has been incorporating sustainability so that the achievements made in rural stroke services can continue past the completion of the Project Officer position.

AIMS
  • To review, develop, pilot and evaluate organised stroke services across rural NSW.
  • To empower rural stroke clinicians through education, establishment of networks, facilitation of information and promotion of stroke research and evidence.
ACHIEVEMENTS

EDUCATION:

  • Rural stroke education forums have been held across rural NSW - 10 in 2006 and four in 2007. These were undertaken in conjunction with the NSW Stroke Services Network through the Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce (GMCT). More than 1000 clinicians and 200 GPs and Pharmacists received free education in their local area from metropolitan and local experts in stroke management
  • In 2007 consumer network forums were undertaken in conjunction with the rural stroke forums. These were held in partnership with the NSW Stroke Recovery Association and aimed at bringing consumers together to promote self-management and networking. Over 100 stroke survivors and their carers attended these forums.
  • A scholarship was awarded to attend the Australasian Stroke Society Meeting in 2006 and a rural prize sponsored by the IRCST at the 2007 Smart Strokes - Nursing and Allied Health Stroke Conference.

NETWORKING:

  • A network of more than 300 rural stroke clinicians has been established allowing clinicians to be kept informed of the latest research, professional development activities, opportunities for scholarships as well as connecting them to other clinicians to allow for exchange of information and advice. Join the distribution list.

RESEARCH: 

  • A comprehensive evaluation of NSW rural stroke services (as at September 2006) has been completed. The report is available below.
  • Eleven rural hospitals have participated in the National Stroke Research Institute (NSRI)/GMCT stroke audit allowing for benchmarking in relation to acute stroke management.
  • Ten rural clinicians were sponsored to attend the Stroke Services NSW Research day held on 21st June 2007 in Sydney.
  • The rural stroke project is a form of health systems research.

RURAL STROKE SERVICES:

  • In 2006 the NSW Government announced recurrent funding for models of stroke services to be trialled in rural NSW.
  • Submissions were called for and a number of areas across the state were successful in receiving funding
  • The successful sites were allocated the funding in March 2007
  • All models are based on the 'hub and spoke' concept and have a Stroke Care Coordinator (SCC) as a key component. All sites are well on the way to implementing enhanced stroke services for their communities.
  • ASUN, through Dr Michael Pollack and Associate Professor Chris Levi as lead advisory clinicians for the project, have undertaken numerous teleconferences and site visits to provide support to the rural services as they become established. Meetings have been held with clinicians and management, and education sessions undertaken.
  • The following sites were successful in receiving funding:
    • Hunter New England Area:
      • Tamworth and Armidale: Stroke Care Coordinators
    • Greater Southern Area Health Service:
      • Wagga Wagga Base Hospital: Stroke Unit
    • North Coast Area Health Service:
      • Hastings/Macleay Area (encompassing Port Macquarie Base Hospital): Stroke Unit
    • Greater Western Area Health Service:
      • Orange and Bathurst – Stroke Care Coordinators
      • Dubbo - Enhancement of allied health, Stroke Care Coordinator
    • South Eastern Sydney/ Illawarra Area Health Service:
      • Shoalhaven: Stroke CNC.

EVALUATION:

  • The trial models of stroke services will undergo a comprehensive evaluation
  • Both qualitative and quantitative evaluations are underway for the trial sites
  • A baseline audit of rural stroke services has been undertaken through the NSRI audit. The audit will be repeated 12 months after the establishment of the new services.
  • Qualitative feedback about the experience of setting up rural stroke services has been collected using a 'world cafe' approach. This involved the SCCs, a key informant from each site and key leaders in the Rural Stroke Project.
  • Through documentation of the process, components and evaluation of the trial it is hoped this will inform the development of further stroke services throughout other rural areas.

 SUSTAINABILITY:

  • A key focus of the project has been the development of a sustainable approach to rural stroke services for 2008 and beyond
  • This has led to the establishment of the Rural Stroke Care Coordinators Network Committee, which is made up of the seven SCCs from the funded sites
  • With the completion of the Project Officer position the SCCs on the Committee will each be taking on a state-wide role (portfolio) to continue the initiatives commenced through the project. The roles of the Committee are outlined below.
  • A mentoring process has been established by linking each of the rural SCCs with a metropolitan colleague
  • The IRCST, ASUN and Stroke Services NSW will continue to have an integral role in the project through the Committee
  • The Committee will ensure ongoing establishment and maintenance of partnerships with key stakeholders such as the NSRI, NSW Stroke Recovery Association and the NSW Ambulance Service.
KEY CONTACTS - RURAL STROKE CARE COORDINATORS COMMITTEE

Kerrie_Rachel_Kim_Alison_Bonnyfront-Alex_Katherine

 

Chairperson Kerry O'Leary, Shoalhaven

Kerrie.Oleary@SESIAHS.health.nsw.gov.au

Secretary Katherine Mohr, Wagga Wagga

Katherine.Mohr@gsahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Education Rachel Peake, Tamworth (Peel/Mehi Clusters, HNEAHS)

Rachel.Peake@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

Resources for Clinicians Alison Chandler, Orange and Bathurst (Eastern and Southern Clusters, GWAHS)

Alison.Chandler@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Communication Alexandra Little, Armidale (Tablelands/McIntyre Clusters, HNEAHS)

Alexandra.Little@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

Research and Quality Activities Kim Parrey, Port Macquarie (Hastings/Macleay Network, NCAHS)

Kim.Parrey@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Audit Bonny Foye, Dubbo (GWAHS)

Bonny.foye@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au

EDUCATION / EVENTS

The Rural Stroke Care Coordinators have developed a stroke education calendar  for upcoming events.

SCHOLARSHIPS / PRIZES
  • Smart Strokes Rural Prize - IRCST awarded the best rural presentation/poster with a prize at the Smart Strokes Conference in August 2007
PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS
NEWSLETTER
REPORTS

 

STROKE AWARENESS WEEK
DUBBO FORUM

The following documents were presented at the Dubbo Forum held 21st November 2007:

PHOTOS



Coffs Harbour Stroke Forum 

Coffs Harbour Stroke Forum 

Coffs Harbour Stroke Forum

LINKS

For more comprehensive information relating to stroke please refer to the NSW Stroke Services Network website through GMCT:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/gmct/ssn/stroke.html

CONTACT DETAILS

Kerrie O'Leary (Shoalhaven SCC) Chairperson Stroke Care Coordinators Network Committee

Kerrie.Oleary@SESIAHS.health.nsw.gov.au

 

Former Stroke Project Officer, Di Marsden, is also available in a limited advisory capacity

Di.Marsden@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au