Outreach Clinic Delivers Expert Cardiac Care To The Heart Of Rural Communities

An innovative outreach clinic, bringing expert cardiac care to a growing number of communities in the Murrumbidgee region, visited Harden last week.

The Outreach Heart Failure Diagnostic Clinic enables isolated patients identified as being at risk of heart failure, to have timely and affordable access to screening, diagnostic and specialist assessment, bringing care closer to home for rural people at no cost to the patient.

The clinic model is a unique public-private partnership between Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD), Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN), Riverina Cardiology and Roy Cardiology - St Vincent’s Network as well as primary care providers including Aboriginal Medical Services.

The clinic was established in December 2022 and initially offered in the western parts of the MLHD in partnership with Roy Cardiology, which paved the way for the current expansion into additional communities.

This expansion has been made possible through a partnership with Wagga’s Riverina Cardiology.

To date, 16 clinics in Murrumbidgee have been held in Hay, West Wyalong, Lake Cargelligo, Temora, Narrandera, Tumut and Holbrook, with strong support form the community.

Upcoming clinics are planned for West Wyalong, Hay, Narrandera, Gundagai and Temora.

MLHD is continuing to expand and look for additional communities in Murrumbidgee to host clinics.

Patients are referred by their local General Practitioner into the clinic, with the next clinic scheduled to be held in Harden on August 15.

This clinic will see patients from the Harden, Boorowa, Young and Cootamundra areas.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park said it was pleasing to see even more regional and rural communities were set to benefit from expert care through the expansion of the Outreach Heart Failure Diagnostic Clinic.

“This clinic has already clearly demonstrated patients who are identified as being at elevated risk, or who are showing symptoms of heart failure, are able to access early diagnostic intervention without having to travel and without any cost to the patient,” Mr Park said.

Labor spokesperson for Cootamundra, Stephen Lawrence MLC said innovations like this clinic were delivering expert cardiac care right into the heart of smaller rural communities.

“Having this access to screening, diagnosis and special assessment will make a major difference to the lives of people living in isolated communities who are at risk of heart failure in the region,” Mr Lawrence said.

“Early diagnosis aims to improve patient experience, outcomes, and quality of life, while reducing preventable emergency department presentations.

“The Outreach Heart Failure Clinic is testament to the power of collaboration and innovation that has resulted in the delivery of high-quality healthcare to patients right across the District.”

Clinical Nurse Consultant with MLHD’s Chronic Respiratory and Heart Failure Team, Anitha Stanley said she heard regularly from patients that were appreciative of having access to diagnostic intervention in a timely manner, without them having to worry about travelling away from their homes.

“We are pleased the clinic is now going to be travelling to even more District communities,” Ms Stanley said.

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