EmailCentres Promoting Health Independence (CPHI)
Older people and people who have multiple and complex needs, often require access to specialist assessment and treatment and a variety of support services to be able to regain or maintain their independence in the community.
Policy in Action
As a key lever in delivering the policy Improving Care for older people – a policy for Health Services, Centres Promoting Health Independence (CPHI) will dynamically work toward realigning healthcare approaches for people (with a focus on older people) by promoting a philosophy of person centred care as the fundamental ethos underpinning the delivery of a comprehensive suite of sub-acute services.
CPHI will demonstrate a strong person-centred approach through a greater understanding of the complexities of older people's health care needs and provide strong integration within and between health services and the broader community, better facilitating seamless transition along the health care continuum.
Strategic Approach
In order to improve care for older people and people who have multiple and complex needs, CPHI will work with Health Services to review, modify and develop six key strategic platforms. These platforms include:
- Delivering person-centred care by ensuring the older person is an informed and valued participant in their health care;
- Refocussing culture by viewing the older person as the main client group;
- Building best practice in the care of older people by the use of an evidence based approach to understand the complexity of their specific health care needs;
- Modifying environments ensuring they are "older person friendly";
- Providing training and development as a catalyst to culture change and a platform for staff training and up skilling;
- Developing partnerships and networks with and between health services, with providers and with other CPHI to build strong relationships so that older people have a continuum of care.
Health Resource
Centres Promoting Health Independence will be a resource enabling people to receive the treatment and health care services they require in the community.
As a key health resource, CPHI will aim to be a recognised centre of excellence and a 'one stop shop' for older people's health care. Features of the CPHI as a community resource will ensure that it is:
- High profile and easily accessed;
- A resource for the acute sector, the community and the consumer, providing expertise in the treatment and care for older people;
- An education and training resource – promoting evidence based practice and intra sector professional support networks;
- A central point in the regional network.
Promoting Health Independence
CPHI will assist in strengthening people's health independence from two perspectives. Firstly, they will reduce the need for hospital admission by providing people with community-based therapeutic interventions that may improve function and/or prevent the deterioration of existing conditions. Secondly, people who have experienced an inpatient episode will be supported to achieve the maximum level of reintegration into the community.
Each major metropolitan Health Service and rural region will have a major sub-acute site: A Centre Promoting Health Independence, which will provide a core suite of services such as: Inpatient services, including rehabilitation and Geriatric Evaluation and Management services. Sub-acute ambulatory services that are delivered in either community based or home based locations including specialist assessment and management services such as Cognitive Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS), Pain, Continence, Falls and Balance, Movement Disorders and Wound Management.
These specialist services will provide health care professionals with access to a wider support network for the management of people with complex needs.
Such arrangements already exist at most extended care centres and at some major sub-acute facilities. The refocusing and further development of these sites will promote the integration of appropriate services.
Further information
For further information please contact:
Nicole Doran
Telephone:
(61 3) 9096 2689.
Email: nicole.doran@health.vic.gov.au
