Plenary presentations

Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite

Clinical Networks; a catalyst for health reform
There are some old and new ideas in the modern view about, and application of, clinical networks. But are they delivering productive improvement, and can we leverage the contribution to health reform that they have long promised?

In this keynote presentation we look at some important issues facing everyone: older challenges, like the boundary-less hospital and the role of clinicians and clinician managers as leaders and key players in reform initiatives; and more recent ideas such as inter-professional learning, and culture change as more sustainable strategies.

We will examine some cutting edge ideas and research on clinical networks to shine a light on what is rapidly becoming a very pertinent question: can we harness clinical networks such that they become a catalyst for deep, sustainable and satisfying health reform?

Professor Andrew Morris

The Scottish experience of clinical networks
The existence of informal networks, as a mode of organising care delivery within the National Health Service (NHS), was observed in the mid 1990s. It was then in 1998 the Scottish Government first articulated the concept of the Managed Clinical Network (MCN) as an organisational model for hospital services. A most important point is the inclusion of the word ‘managed’ in the name given to this organisational model.

Scotland has seen a rapid adoption of MCNs, suggesting the concept has considerable appeal to the health service community. But have they delivered? In this presentation, Andrew will use diabetes as an exemplar to look at the strengths and weaknesses of the network model after 12 years.

Ms Margaret Murphy

Consumers as partners in improving care
Margaret’s presentation will explore patient and carer engagement and involvement in healthcare. It will also explore using the patient experience as a catalyst for change and service improvement.

Patients and family can be an untapped resource, so this presentation will also provide an introduction to the Patients for Patient Safety Program, WHO Patient Safety and the spread and diversity of patient safety champions, with some examples of their involvement.

Professor Paddy Phillips/Ms Shelley Horne

The role of clinical networks in the South Australian Health System
This presentation will focus on the South Australian experience of clinical networks and the approach taken to the development of networks in that state. The benefits and achievements of the clinical networks will be explored, and discussion of how they fit with and influence other parts of the SA health system.

Dr Fran Woodard

Can transformational change really happen in healthcare?
This presentation will argue that transformational change can really happen in healthcare, but it involves understanding the importance of and ability to achieve integration and the need to create new ways of thinking and working.

Today’s drivers for system and organisational change will be explored, together with how these highlight the need for a more robust pathway approach to healthcare, incorporating evidenced-based care.

Mechanisms for reducing the disconnections and simple co-ordinating and control mechanisms for pathway care are offered as a way forward.