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NPCC update: Collaborative program sustains improvement in chronic disease

Results from the National Primary Care Collaboratives (NPCC) program continue to indicate strong and sustainable improvement in each of the three topic areas of Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Better Access to primary care.

The first of three NPCC Waves reached their 18 month milestone in October, with 76% of practices still submitting data up to this point. Over this period the percentage of patients with CHD recorded as being on a statin increased from 42% to 71%, while the percentage of patients whose blood pressure was below the best practice guideline of 140/90mmHg rose to 48%, from 35% at baseline.

Wave 2 practices continue to make impressive improvements four months after their final workshop. The percentage of patients with Diabetes HbA1c levels below the recommended 7% has doubled, from 16% to 35%, while the percentage of patients seen on the day of their choice has also risen from 82% to 88% after 10 months of participation.

Wave 3 completed their second learning workshop in October and early results are incredibly encouraging. After only three months of measurement the percentage of patients seen on the day of their choice jumped from 80% to 85%, while the percentage of patients with Diabetes whose blood pressure was equal to or below 130/80mmHg almost doubled to 28%, from 15% at baseline. The Diabetes cholesterol measure also doubled, starting at 7% and reaching 14% of patients with cholesterol levels below best practice of 4mmol/L.

The NPCC is also trialling local and virtual delivery of the Collaboratives program which allows practices to participate from solo rural and remote regions, boosting the total number of practices participating in the program to over 500 across Australia, equivalent to almost 8% of general practices across the country.

For the latest results please visit the NPCC website at www.npcc.com.au

For further information, contact:
Linda Hein
Communications and Marketing Officer
Ph: 08 8201 7733
E: linda.hein@flinders.edu.au