Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 2 Cape York Demographics Land size: 324,000 sq km Population: 12,000 – 13,000 Indigenous Population: 52%

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 3 What is the Rural Health Service Directory (RHSD)? A web-based database that stores health service providers’ visiting schedules to Cape York communities.

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 4 Need for RHSD? Increase in state and commonwealth funding of outreach services. Increase in fly in – fly out health services by multiple health organisations, agencies and departments. Increased demand on the PHC Centres but limited resources available. Improve co-ordination of outreach services by supplying health service providers with more information to assist with service planning.

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 5 Need for RHSD? (cont…) Previously Cape York community members were reliant on paper-based schedules and word-of-mouth to know when fly in – fly out health services were arriving. The website aims to improve service provider and community access to scheduling information on when fly in – fly out health service is available in their community.

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 6 History of the RHSD In July 2000 the RFDS (Qld Section) developed a clinical services database lead by Queensland Health Quality Improvement and Enhancement Project (QIEP) focusing on rural and remote health issues. The website was piloted but full implementation was not achieved. In December 2007, the RFDS (Qld Section) recruited a Project Officer to roll out RHSD in response to service co-ordination challenges identified by the CYRHF.

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 7 Governance The implementation of the RHSD was endorsed by the Cape York Regional Health Forum (CYRHF) who obtained further funding through DoHA (OATSIH) to further develop and implement the RHSD project. CYRHF includes: –Apunipima Cape York Health Council; –Queensland Health CYHSD; –Far North Queensland Rural Division of General Practice; –Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section; –Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council; and –Department of Health and Ageing (OATSIH)

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 8 Sustainability of RHSD The Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council (CYPHCPC) has sustained the ongoing monitoring, evaluation and training associated with the Directory once the funding from DoHA ceased. CYPHCPC membership includes: –QH Cape York Health Service District; –Apunipima Cape York Health Council; –Far North Queensland Rural Division of General Practice; –Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section); –Queensland Ambulance Service –Weipa Advisory Network –Cooktown Advisory Network

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 9 Project Management The Royal Flying Doctor Service (Qld Section) auspiced the project which was initially funded for an 18 month period. An additional 6 months funding was granted to Queensland Health CYHSD for the appointment of a full- time Project Officer to oversee the RHSD.

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 10 Who are the Target Groups? The Cape York community. All organisations, agencies or government departments providing health services to the following Cape York communities: Aurukun, Coen, Cooktown, Hopevale, Kowanyama, Laura, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Mossman, Napranum, Pormpuraaw, Weipa and Wujal Wujal

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 11 What are the Benefits to Service Providers? Comprehensive, up-to-date scheduling information will improve the co-ordination of health services and guide schedule planning by: –Helping service providers and PHC centre staff to identify busy periods at the centres. –Assisting in minimising duplication of services and overloading PHC centres. –Increasing knowledge of other fly in – fly out services, which will enable health service providers to strengthen collaboration on service provision (i.e., improved patient referral pathways).

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 12 Challenges Organisation change management process: –Progressing from a paper-based system to an electronic system. –Relying on individual organisations to update their schedules. –Overcoming technical issues during the roll out of the Directory. –Ongoing training of the Directory due to staff turnover.

Cape York Primary Health Care Partnership Council 13 Achievements The registration of 33 service providers on the RHSD. The successful launch of the RHSD within 18 months. The provision of a central repository for information on outreach services for Cape York communities. Improved community knowledge regarding when and where health services are available.