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Empowering Remote and Regional Mental Health: Innovative Practices and Strategies

Tracks
Bluewater I - In-Person
Thursday, November 7, 2024
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Bluewater I

Overview

Sandra Volvricht, Kim Whitehead, and Dianne Van Giesen, CAMHS Northern Country


Speaker

Agenda Item Image
Sandra Volvricht
Clinical Coordinator
CAMHS Northern Country

Empowering Remote and Regional Mental Health: Innovative Practices and Strategies

Abstract

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is a free community-based tertiary mental health service provided through the WCHN across South Australia, providing care to those with severe and/or complex mental health needs. Northern Country CAMHS forms one of the community-based teams of the service with 6 main sites and outreach commitments from each site. Geographically the team covers a large section of South Australia encompassing the Mid North, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, and the Far North.

Mental health support in rural and geographically dispersed areas faces unique challenges stemming from limited access to resources and specialised care. This abstract explores innovative strategies and technologies aimed at bridging this gap and enhancing mental health services for these underserved populations.

We aim to highlight the effectiveness of telehealth, mobile applications, and community-based initiatives in providing accessible and culturally sensitive support.

The importance of collaboration between healthcare providers, changes to policy in developing sustainable solutions and being more available to our healthcare providers.

Explore our experiences of Drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) and fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) service provision models which have emerged as practical solutions to deliver crucial services.

Innovative strategies and best practices for optimising service delivery under these models, including workforce management, logistics coordination, and technological integration.

Efficient administrative support plays a crucial role in optimising the workflow of clinicians and enhancing overall healthcare delivery.
Explore various aspects of administrative support, including appointment scheduling, patient record management, and regulatory compliance. Additionally, we discuss the impact of administrative support on clinician job satisfaction, productivity, and client outcomes.

Innovative approaches that streamline administrative tasks and empower clinicians to focus more on client care. By emphasising the importance of a well-coordinated administrative infrastructure, we aim to underscore the communicated relationship between administrative support and clinical practice, ultimately fostering a more efficient and client-centered service.

Three Key Learnings:

1. Service delivery regardless of postcode
2. Best use of the resources you have in a climate of doing more with less
3. Creative practices - trying new practices and review

Biography

A compassionate healthcare professional with a diverse background in nursing and social work. Enrolled Paediatric Nurse, Adelaide Children’s Hospital, whilst working in Child Protection in Coober Pedy, Sandra expanded her expertise by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in social work from Deakin University. This led to her moving into the specialty of mental health with CAMHS South Australia. Past two decades Sandra has worked with CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). During this time, Sandra has held various roles, showcasing her versatility and leadership within the field. A clinician, clinical coordinator, service manager and operations Manager all for community services.
Agenda Item Image
Kim Whitehead
Clinical Coordinator
CAMHS Northern Country

Empowering Remote and Regional Mental Health: Innovative Practices and Strategies

Abstract

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is a free community-based tertiary mental health service provided through the WCHN across South Australia, providing care to those with severe and/or complex mental health needs. Northern Country CAMHS forms one of the community-based teams of the service with 6 main sites and outreach commitments from each site. Geographically the team covers a large section of South Australia encompassing the Mid North, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, and the Far North.

Mental health support in rural and geographically dispersed areas faces unique challenges stemming from limited access to resources and specialised care. This abstract explores innovative strategies and technologies aimed at bridging this gap and enhancing mental health services for these underserved populations.

We aim to highlight the effectiveness of telehealth, mobile applications, and community-based initiatives in providing accessible and culturally sensitive support.

The importance of collaboration between healthcare providers, changes to policy in developing sustainable solutions and being more available to our healthcare providers.

Explore our experiences of Drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) and fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) service provision models which have emerged as practical solutions to deliver crucial services.

Innovative strategies and best practices for optimising service delivery under these models, including workforce management, logistics coordination, and technological integration.

Efficient administrative support plays a crucial role in optimising the workflow of clinicians and enhancing overall healthcare delivery.
Explore various aspects of administrative support, including appointment scheduling, patient record management, and regulatory compliance. Additionally, we discuss the impact of administrative support on clinician job satisfaction, productivity, and client outcomes.

Innovative approaches that streamline administrative tasks and empower clinicians to focus more on client care. By emphasising the importance of a well-coordinated administrative infrastructure, we aim to underscore the communicated relationship between administrative support and clinical practice, ultimately fostering a more efficient and client-centered service.

Three Key Learnings:

1. Service delivery regardless of postcode
2. Best use of the resources you have in a climate of doing more with less
3. Creative practices - trying new practices and review

Biography

Kim Whitehead commenced in mental health nursing in New Zealand, training at Carrington Hospital Auckland as a Mental Health Nurse. Taking on further training with a bachelor’s degree Nursing Practice at Flinders University and a Graduate Diploma Rural and Remote MH at Uni SA. In 2009, Kim transitioned from Adult Mental Health Services to the CAMHS Northern Country Service, bringing her expertise and compassion to the forefront of adolescent mental health care. Her journey within the service has been marked by significant milestones, including her appointment as Clinical Coordinator in 2012, where she played a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of care delivered to young patients.
Agenda Item Image
Dianne Van Giesen
Admin Coordinator
CAMHS Northern Country

Empowering Remote and Regional Mental Health: Innovative Practices and Strategies

Abstract

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is a free community-based tertiary mental health service provided through the WCHN across South Australia, providing care to those with severe and/or complex mental health needs. Northern Country CAMHS forms one of the community-based teams of the service with 6 main sites and outreach commitments from each site. Geographically the team covers a large section of South Australia encompassing the Mid North, Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, and the Far North.

Mental health support in rural and geographically dispersed areas faces unique challenges stemming from limited access to resources and specialised care. This abstract explores innovative strategies and technologies aimed at bridging this gap and enhancing mental health services for these underserved populations.

We aim to highlight the effectiveness of telehealth, mobile applications, and community-based initiatives in providing accessible and culturally sensitive support.

The importance of collaboration between healthcare providers, changes to policy in developing sustainable solutions and being more available to our healthcare providers.

Explore our experiences of Drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) and fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) service provision models which have emerged as practical solutions to deliver crucial services.
Innovative strategies and best practices for optimising service delivery under these models, including workforce management, logistics coordination, and technological integration.
Efficient administrative support plays a crucial role in optimising the workflow of clinicians and enhancing overall healthcare delivery.
Explore various aspects of administrative support, including appointment scheduling, patient record management, and regulatory compliance. Additionally, we discuss the impact of administrative support on clinician job satisfaction, productivity, and client outcomes.

Innovative approaches that streamline administrative tasks and empower clinicians to focus more on client care. By emphasising the importance of a well-coordinated administrative infrastructure, we aim to underscore the communicated relationship between administrative support and clinical practice, ultimately fostering a more efficient and client-centered service.

Three Key Learnings:

1. Service delivery regardless of postcode
2. Best use of the resources you have in a climate of doing more with less
3. Creative practices - trying new practices and review

Biography

Dianne has been in healthcare since 2005, beginning at CAMHS Northern Service. As Admin Coordinator since 2019, she excels in organization and efficiency. With two decades of business ownership experience, she brings valuable insights to healthcare management. Dianne's exceptional talent lies in organizing people and resources, whether orchestrating complex projects or mobilizing teams toward common goals. Her experiences have honed her skills and deepened her understanding of efficient administration in delivering quality healthcare services.
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