Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) is proud to be involved in the Healthy Choices Program which will help people in the western suburbs living with chronic health conditions make healthier lifestyle choices.
The Healthy Choices Program, launched on 12 April, is a unique collaboration between The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of South Australia (UniSA), City of Charles Sturt, North West Adelaide Health Study and The Hospital Research Foundation.
In the partnership, CALHN will provide access to patients and act as a referral pathway for them. Supervised UniSA students, from a range of health disciplines, will partner with CALHN patients living with a chronic health concern.
Over a three month period, the supervised UniSA student will work with the patient to co-create an individualised program focusing on self-management, patient activation and community participation.
‘The Healthy Choices Program unites our shared values of wanting to achieve the best health outcomes for community, and aligns with CALHNs strategic ambitions of delivering world-class care and world-class research,’ said Rachael Kay, Executive Director of Capital Projects and Planning, Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN).
Participants will receive education about the available supports and activities to achieve their wellbeing goals, and understand the conditions impacting their health, in order to make better choices.
The key program services include: 1) education package and sessions; 2) individual goal-setting and health coaching; 3) care navigation; and 4) individual and group sessions.
‘The program comes at a time when access and demand issues continue to be one of the largest health challenges both globally and locally. The need for hospital innovations that address chronic disease management is vitally important. CALHN and TQEH are proud to be involved in this Program and look forward to seeing the positive impact it has on our local community,’ Rachael Kay said.
Based at the City of Charles Sturt Civic Centre in Woodville, the Program will be evaluated by a research team who will monitor the health and wellbeing outcomes of the participants, their health service utilisation, and the cost-effectiveness of the service. The experiences of the students, participants and related service providers will also be evaluated.
The Healthy Choices Program is a five-year commitment to improving health and wellbeing outcomes in the western suburbs, and funded by a grant from the Medical Research Futures Fund.
To find out how to get involved with the program visit unisa.edu.au/healthy-choices-program/
