Fremantle GP Network

Australian Primary Care Collaboratives (APCC)

"The most stimulating aspect of working with the Collaborative program is sharing ideas and solving problems with other practices.  All practices seem to face similar issues.  The collaborative process derives its power from working together to "turn the possible into the usual." Dr Tony Lembke, Alstonville Clinic

The National Primary Care Collaboratives (NPCC) Program began as a 3-year, $14.6 million initiative funded from by the Australian Government Budget and finished in 2007. The program has since been renamed the Australian Primary Care Collaborative (APCC) and is supported with $34.6 million over 4 years from the Australian Government. 

What is a collaborative?
A collaborative is an improvement method that relies on the distribution and adaptation of existing knowledge to multiple settings to achieve a common aim.

The Collaborative Program Framework
The Program framework consists of an Orientation and three Learning Workshops with Activity Periods. Participants exchange ideas, share experiences and learn about practical quality improvement skills, which can be implemented following the Model for Improvement.  Teams from the general practices involved share their learning together and with the Improvement Foundation to implement changes and test the improvement with the aim to lead to a lasting improvement.  The aim of the APCC is to:

  • Improve patient care through better management of Chronic Disease
  • Increase best practice care through better use of information systems (both medical and business systems)
  • Evolving roles among practice staff to better meet patient demand
  • A cultural shift from individual patient care to population based care

Topic Areas

  • Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD)
  • Diabetes
  • Access and Care Redesign
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Chronic Disease Prevention and Self Management (CDPSM)

APCC Participation

Over 1000 Australian general practices from more than 70 Divisions have acheived significant improvements through their involvement in the APCC program. The program has enabled practices to acheive significant improvements, for example:

Improvements

  • 26% improvement in the percentage of patients with CHD recorded as being on a statin medication
  • 84% improvement in the percentage of patients who have had a SIP claimed for them
  • 7% improvement in the percentage of patients seen by a GP on the day of their choice

Opportunities for Practices:

  • Improved systems
  • Increased clinical outcomes
  • Improved patient care/satisfaction
  • Whole of practice approach/teamwork
  • Improved access
  • Learn with and from other practices
  • Increased profitability

What is required of participating practices?

  • Nominate a lead GP and a practice staff member to drive improvement in the practice and attend the orientation day and three two day learning workshops
  • Submit clinical data on a monthly basis for at least 18 months (data extraction tool provided)
  • Submit at least two quality improvement strategies every month
  • Undertake work in topic areas

Fremantle GP Network currently has 4 practices participating in the program.

  • Ellen St Family Practice
  • South St Medical Centre
  • Dr John Troy
  • East Fremantle Medical Centre

If you would like more information about the APCC, please contact Rhianna Muir or (08) 9319 0555 for further information.

Useful Link
Australian Primary Care Collaboratives