Stroke

The Victorian Stroke Clinical Network (VSCN) was established in October 2007. The primary role of the Stroke Clinical Network is to support implementation of the Stroke Care Strategy for Victoria (PDF file, 1.88mb), which was released by the department in September 2007.

The role of the VSCN is to take a ‘whole of Victoria’ approach to enhance implementation of the Strategy.  This is through provision of expert advice to promote better planning for and delivery of high quality, evidence based clinically effective stroke care services across the care continuum.

The VSCN provides a mechanism for clinicians to inform policy on stroke care and service delivery.  The network membership is multidisciplinary comprising clinical, senior health service management, organisational and consumer representatives.  The network meets on a regular basis and has established a number of task focussed sub-committees.

The VSCN has developed a work plan which is focused on implementing key recommendations from the Strategy. 

Current activities and key results areas include:

• Appointment of an implementation support team (Stroke Program manager and clinical network facilitators) - Recommendations 27 and 28 from the Strategy.
  
  
• Workforce Education with a focus on targeted scholarships and development of educational resources – Recommendation 26.
  
  
• Support for public awareness campaigns (such as a three year partnership with the National Stroke Foundation for the Victorian mass media FAST campaign) – Recommendation 2.
  
  
• Promotion of best evidence based practice in the care and management of people experiencing a stroke including organisation of services, coordination of care, provision of information, clinical best practice and quality improvement initiatives.
  
  
• Review and development of tools to assist in monitoring the quality of stroke care services, including protocols, data collections and service role delineation.

Stroke Clinical Network Facilitators

In order to deliver on these objectives eight Stroke Clinical Facilitators have been seconded to the department from health services across Victoria to support local project activities.

The Stroke Clinical Network Facilitators are placed in health services including Northern Health, Peninsula Health, Western Health and regionally, Bendigo Health Care Group, Ballarat Health Service, South West Healthcare and Latrobe Regional Hospital.

Further Information

Sonia Denisenko / Adele Mollo
Tel (03) 9096 1297
email: sonia.denisenko@dhs.vic.gov.au / adele.mollo@dhs.vic.gov.au

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