Cardiac Services

Welcome / Background

The last ministerial review Coronary Care Services in Victoria was 1996. Since then there have been a number of national strategies which have been developed to guide change in cardiac disease prevention and management. One of these strategies is The National Service Improvement Framework for Heart, Stroke and Vascular Disease (2005), which complements the National Chronic Disease Strategy and forms part of a national approach for improving health services for chronic disease prevention and care.

The Department of Human Services (the department) in 2007 commissioned a review of acute and sub-acute adult cardiac services. The Cardiac Service Framework for Victoria (cardiac review) was completed in April 2008 making 48 recommendations.
 
One of the recommendations was to establish a cardiac clinical network. The setting up of the Cardiac Clinical Network commenced in February 2009 and aims to improve quality, access, equity, cost effectiveness and sustainability of cardiac services in Victoria through:

• Facilitating a coordinated approach, based on evidence based guidelines for the care and management of both adults and children with cardiac conditions.

• Providing expert advice related to the provision of high quality clinically effective cardiac services across the continuum of care.

Concurrently the department is developing a Cardiac Strategy for Victoria 2010-2015 which will set out strategies for the immediate, short and long term priorities for the delivery of cardiac service in Victoria. These strategies will draw upon the Cardiac Services Framework for Victoria 2007 and National Service Improvement Framework 2005.

Further Information:

Hella Parker
Ph: (03) 9096 2009
Email: hella.parker@dhs.vic.gov.au