Recently, research was published about quality general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. 5 General practices were featured in the research, one of which was HHMP. A plain language summary of the research is provided by the authors is included below.  There are links to the 2 article in the Australian Journal of General Practice.

Healthy Primary Care – Quality General Practice

How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced patient-centred care? This work was published as a two-part series

Investigators and Authors: Dr Bryce Brickley, Prof. Lauren T. Williams, Prof. Mark Morgan, Dr Alyson Ross, Ms Kellie Trigger, A/Prof. Lauren Ball

Journal: Australian Journal of General Practice

Article 1 Title: Patient-centred care during the covid pandemic: Protocol for a qualitative collective case study by high-performing general practice teams (Published February 2022)

Article 2 Title: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced patient-centred care? Analysis of a qualitative collective case study by high‑performing practice teams (Published May 2022)

Overview of Research Findings

Despite the pandemic, the pursuit for patient-centred care in Australian general practice has not been abandoned. High performing general practice clinics maintained a focus on delivering care that is respectful and responsive to the needs and wishes of patients. General practice teams in our study showed they adapted towards the new pandemic-influenced environment to deliver patient-centred care. General practice teams innovated their technological systems, invested in new infrastructure, and demonstrated strong community leadership to maintain patient-centred care.

Summary of Research

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted general practice organisations throughout Australia. Initially, fewer patients attended general practice services for routine care. Then, the number of telehealth consultations significantly increased; all while general practice was called upon by the Federal Government to vaccinate the bulk of the national population. Prior to this research, the extent of the influence of the pandemic of patient-centred care was not known.

This study engaged five general practice clinics across six different Australian states/territories. To be an eligible clinic, the practice must have received a “Practice of the Year” award or commendation from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners or Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited within the last five years (2021-2016). A representative nominated by each eligible clinic participated in one 30-minute interview and described the perspectives and experiences by their general practice team of delivering patient-centred care during the pandemic.

The themes that developed from interviews were:

• The pandemic created new barriers to enacting patient-centred care
• A focus on patient-centred care within general practice teams was maintained throughout the pandemic
• Proactiveness led to patient-centred innovations
• Strong leadership and patient-focused practice culture enabled patient-centred care
• Investment in new technology and infrastructure enabled patient-centred care
• Convenience and accessibility of telehealth was valued and embraced by clinicians and patients.

The value of this research comes from understanding the ‘real world’ experiences of general practice teams. Participants’ narrative quotes highlight the perseverance of general practice teams and their prioritisation for patient-centred care. High performing general practice teams can act as a role model and guide the wider general practice discipline to continue to enact patient-centred care despite the pandemic’s influence. Future research can use these findings to tailor tools to measure and support patient-centred care.

Hunters Hill Medical Practice has been announced as the winner of the inaugural Pen CS data driven quality improvement awards for general practice and Aboriginal Medical Services.

Pen CS is a provider of health informatics software and applications that support health professionals in performing data research and continuous quality improvements. The use of this software makes it easier for general practices like HHMP to identify at risk populations and target those with appropriate intervention.

The inaugural Pen CS Awards

This is a national event to recognise excellence in data-driven quality improvement in General Practice and Aboriginal Medical Services. Pen CS CEO Edweana Wenkart said:

“The inaugural Pen CS Awards recognise excellence in data-driven quality improvement that improves patient outcomes.  Data is pivotal to informing quality improvement (QI) programs and so is a strong practice culture, with a learning orientation, that embraces health informatics to inform QI.  The Awards will acknowledge innovation in health informatics and the esteemed and pivotal role of Practice teams and Doctors in General Practice and Aboriginal Medical Services, for their commitment to building a healthy Australia,”

Pen CS are aiming to support Australia’s shift to value-based healthcare with a focus on improved outcomes. The effective use of health informatics by primary care practices such as general practice facilitates quality improvement. It can help practices improve their ability to deliver high quality patient outcomes by using data and feedback to track and assess performance over time and to make necessary changes in processes.

The awards ceremony took place on Thursday 16th of September 2021. In announcing the Multidisciplinary award Pen CS CEO Edweana Wenkart highlighted HHMP as an organisation with a “pioneering spirit and new models of clinical care” which was deserving of a surprise award “The multidisciplinary care award” that was focused on “integrated team care”.

In receiving the award, HHMP Medical Director, Dr Charbel Badr, started off by congratulating all the other winners for their awards and the hard work they do each day. He proceeded to thank PEN CS for recognising HHMP for the programs that we run for Indigenous school children and older people at risk of osteoporosis and fractures.  He said:

“The Multidisciplinary award fits very well with our practice ethos which is about bringing GP, multiple allied health services and specialists all in the one place to improve access and outcomes for patients.”

He went on to speak about data and using such data for clinical care:

“As we all know accessing clinical data from the clinical software can sometimes be very difficult. The PEN CS software makes this very much easier in allowing us to link with target populations. I would like to specifically thank PEN CS and the Sydney North Health Network for making this available.”

Dr Badr finished by thanking the HHMP team for all their hardwork, especially in the last 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HHMP winner PEN CS Multidisciplinary Award

The HHMP data experience

HHMP uses the Pen CS software and other data tools on a regular basis to help us personalise and optimise our services. We recently used the Pen CS software as part of our COVID-19 vaccination clinic, our in-house bone density screening week and to create a health assessment plan for Indigenous students in partnership with St Joseph’s College (Joeys). Having access to quality data, presented in a simple and functional way allows for easy analysis and patient identification.

HHMP would like to thank the team at Pen CS for shortlisting our practice team for the awards and the Sydney North Health Network (SNHN) for their support with data tools and continuous quality improvement.

Hunters Hill Medical Practice has been announced as a finalist in the inaugural Pen CS data driven quality improvement awards for general practice and Aboriginal Medical Services.

 Pen CS is a provider of health informatics software applications that support health professionals in performing continuous quality improvements. The use of this software makes it easier for practices like HHMP to identify at risk populations and target those with appropriate intervention.

The inaugural Pen CS Awards

This is a national event to recognise excellence in data-driven quality improvement in General Practice and Aboriginal Medical Services. Pen CS CEO Edweana Wenkart said:

“The inaugural Pen CS Awards recognise excellence in data-driven quality improvement that improves patient outcomes.  Data is pivotal to informing quality improvement (QI) programs and so is a strong practice culture, with a learning orientation, that embraces health informatics to inform QI.  The Awards will acknowledge innovation in health informatics and the esteemed and pivotal role of Practice teams and Doctors in General Practice and Aboriginal Medical Services, for their commitment to building a healthy Australia,”

Pen CS are aiming to support Australia’s shift to value-based healthcare with a focus on improved outcomes. The effective use of health informatics by primary care practices such as general practice facilitates quality improvement. It can help practices improve their ability to deliver high quality patient outcomes by using data and feedback to track and assess performance over time and to make necessary changes in processes.

The HHMP data experience

HHMP uses the Pen CS software and other data tools on a regular basis to help us personalise and optimise our services. We recently used the Pen CS software as part of our COVID-19 vaccination clinic, our in-house bone density screening week and to create a health assessment plan for Indigenous students in partnership with St Joseph’s College. Having access to quality data, presented in a simple and functional way allows for easy analysis and patient identification.

HHMP would like to thank the team at Pen CS for shortlisting our practice team for the awards and the Sydney North Health Network (SNHN) for their support with data tools and continuous quality improvement.

We congratulate all the finalists on their efforts to improve outcomes for their communities and wish them all the best of luck. We are looking forward to the winners being announced on Thursday the 16th of September. We will keep you posted!

HHMP Medical Director, Dr Charbel Badr, was recently nominated for the Hunters Hill Council, Local Hero spotlight.

The nomination is intended to highlight locals who go above and beyond for the community. That has certainly been the case with Dr Badr, who has put in a major effort and many more late nights (than usual ;-)) optimising the HHMP response to COVID-19. This has resulted in the practice remaining open throughout the entire period and providing services to the local community during a health crisis. Dr Badr’s planning and leadership meant that HHMP was ready for the pandemic with an isolation room from February 2020, extra flu vaccines when these were in short supply and enough PPE to allow us to offer local testing for our patients.

True to form, Charbel was totally uncomfortable about being in the local hero spotlight and while he was humbled by the nomination he highlighted that he was but one member of the team. He was especially proud of the team’s ability to identify, help manage and regularly follow up multiple positive local cases in a way that minimised local spread.

Our local community is truly special and close-knit. The entire HHMP team is privileged to be part of it. We thank everyone for their support and endeavour to provide such support to those who need it.

Staff and doctors at Hunters Hill Medical Practice are very sad to see our receptionist Sally (Sal) retire after 10+ years at our 6 Ryde Rd rooms. Sal has always been lovely to deal with and a constant smiling face when entering through the car park door. At her farewell, both doctors Bowes and Badr praised Sally for her contribution to the team over so many years. We wish Sal well and lots of special times with her grandchildren.

AGPAL accreditation and Quality Improvement Award Winner: HHMP

On Friday 18 May, at the AGPAL & QIP 2018 Conference Gala Dinner in Melbourne, Hunters Hill Medical Practice was announced as the Excellence award Winner in the category of AGPAL Chair General Practice of the Year Award, as part of the AGPAL (accreditation) & QIP Excellence Awards.

The AGPAL & QIP Excellence Awards recognise Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited (AGPAL) and Quality Innovation Performance Limited (QIP) accredited organisations or services accredited by, who consistently go above and beyond to implement and embed quality improvements, have teams that love to innovate, demonstrate a dedicated approach to patient and consumer services and/or care, and have a clear understanding of related industry standards.

Dr Stephen Clark, AGPAL Group Chief Executive, said that the there was a large volume of high caliber nominations for the award category, received from QIP accredited health services from around the nation.

“The AGPAL Awards recognise and reward the commitment that practices make to quality improvement within Australia’s health care setting. I was proud that I, and our judging panel of industry experts, was able to read about Hunters Hill Medical Practice’s nomination. Their dedication to their patients and the local community goes above and beyond, exceeding expected standards.”

“I congratulate Hunters Hill Medical Practice for being the 2018 Excellence Winner in the category of AGPAL Chair General Practice of the Year Award. I would also like to thank all other nominees for sharing their stories,” Dr Clark said.

Hunters Hill Medical Practice has a long history of AGPAL accreditation and is committed to ensuring their team are prepared for any situation to ensure they can deliver the upmost care and service delivery to their patients. They regularly undertake secret scenario training, which allows them to review and reflect on how situations may/have been handled and how they could improve on the situation if it was to ever happen in the practice.

Their team plays an active role in their local community and has close relationships many local community groups, including schools, promoting discussion around topics such as mental health, cyber-bullying and concussion in sport.

Their commitment to the AGPAL accreditation process and the continuing development of quality of care, safety and risk management in their practice is outstanding, supported by a team that is truly committed to achieving the best outcomes possible for their patients. Such qualities are the hallmark of AGPAL accreditation and the reason for being named the excellence award winner.

Award nominees submitted a nomination form self-assessing against key criteria. The judging process to identify the finalists, and subsequent Excellence Award Winner, was rigorous and informed by the AGPAL accreditation process. A large number of nominations were received.

Below is part of the HHMP interview with the AGPAL Quality in focus magazine about AGPAL accreditation and being named the award winner.

AGPAL Team: Congratulations on your AGPAL accreditation and being awarded AGPAL Chair General Practice of the Year Excellence Award Winner! How did the team react and celebrate?

Dr Badr: It is a great honour and we are still talking about it. On the night, at the gala dinner, while the announcement was being made, the staff there started crying, which showed how committed they are to their roles. The SMS’s and emails flew thick and fast! Since we have been back at the practice, all the staff have been very excited about it and many of the patients too. The winner logo now adorns the doors, and the award is being framed for pride of place in our waiting room. It has been fantastic to see the level of support from our patients.

AGPAL Team: What do you feel is the secret to Hunters Hill Medical Practice’s success?

Dr Badr: The practice has been built on a good foundation. The plan has always been to keep it simple; to hire genuine people who are capable but also willing to learn. Then give them the resources and support to allow them to focus on patient care. This has been done with an open mind and with an eye towards quality and continuous improvement. The AGPAL accreditation is part of that process.

Katrina: The multi-disciplinary team has been such an award winner for our staff and patients. We also focus on education, with extra sessions for staff, teaching medical students and having registrars.

For the full article, please click here.

Dr Stephen Clark, AGPAL Chief Executive, said “The AGPAL and QIP Excellence Awards recognise and reward the commitment that general practices make to quality improvement within a health care setting. The nominations process has allowed me the privilege to gain a unique insight into the inspiring achievements taking place within the health care environment. Congratulations to Hunters Hill Medical Practice for being selected as a finalist for the AGPAL General Practice of the Year Award”.

The Excellence and Highly Commended recipients of the AGPAL General Practice of the Year Award will be presented in Melbourne at the AGPAL and QIP Conference Gala Dinner on Friday 18 May 2018. Dr Badr and staff members will be there representing HHMP.