My name is Dr Orlaith O'Reilly, the Clinical Lead for Chronic Disease Management in Ireland. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the North American Integrated Care Conference, which proved to be an enriching experience. I met numerous passionate professionals from North America and beyond, all dedicated to advancing Integrated Care. These connections were invaluable, and I look forward to collaborating with many of them in the future.
Chronic Disease Integrated Care in Ireland
Over the past five years, Ireland has made significant strides in the national implementation of our Integrated Care Chronic Disease Framework. This initiative involved crafting an evidence-based framework, securing stakeholder buy-in, and obtaining funding, leading us to commence implementation in 2020.
We have successfully rolled out a nationwide General Practice Chronic Disease Management Programme. This encompasses early case finding on an opportunistic basis, along with comprehensive Prevention and Treatment Programmes tailored for cardiovascular, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. To support our General Practitioners (GPs), we have developed a suite of Self-Management Support Educational Programmes, created with input from patients and the voluntary sector.
Additionally, we have established a nationwide network of Chronic Disease Hubs, serving approximately 150,000 individuals. These hubs provide GPs with rapid access to expert opinions and support from nursing, health and social care professionals (HSCP), and consultants. Our General Practice Programme has shown excellent clinical results and is fully implemented nationwide, although the staffing levels for the Hub development programme vary across the country.
Lessons from Calgary
During my time in Calgary, I learned that Canada faces similar challenges to those we are experiencing in Ireland post-COVID. Unfortunately, both countries have seen a trend of diverting funds from community development and preventive work into acute services. As a Senior Medical Officer in Calgary aptly stated, "the acute monster eats everything!" This experience reinforced the importance of adhering to our planned implementation of preventive and primary care initiatives rather than reverting to a sole focus on acute capacity.
Notable Sessions
One session that particularly resonated with me was the opening plenary on the human-level transformation of collective impact. It conveyed many practical insights that I believe we should all consider in our work.
I also found the oral presentation session on health pathways enlightening. The discussions sparked my interest, and I plan to explore this concept further in our developments in Ireland.
A highlight of the conference was my colleague Dr. Maria O'Brien’s presentation on the Irish journey of developing and implementing the behaviour change model at a population level, titled "Making Every Contact Count." This comprehensive program includes training curricula for healthcare professionals aimed at improving their skills and confidence in facilitating health behaviour change. The program's success is evident in the reduction of lifestyle risk factors among patients enrolled in the Chronic Disease Management Programme.
Conference Highlights
The venue in Calgary was excellent, and I enjoyed exploring the city, which offered a variety of delightful restaurants. The conference organizers provided exceptional hospitality, and I want to extend my gratitude to everyone involved for the wonderful lunches and overall experience.
Takeaway Messages
My key takeaway from the conference is that we are on the right track with our Integrated Care initiatives. Each event I attend deepens my understanding of how different regions approach similar challenges. This time, I am particularly inspired to focus on Health Pathways as a potential strategy for Ireland. It was reassuring to learn that the implementation challenges we face are shared by others worldwide, and hearing practical stories from practitioners in different jurisdictions is always beneficial.
Thank you for reading!
Dr Orlaith O'Reilly
HSE- South (SE)