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Overview
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a life-threatening and debilitating disease. It is responsible for significant morbidity and premature mortality in Australia causing a substantial burden on our economy.
The development of CVD can be largely preventable by taking appropriate measures since multiple modifiable risk factors such as high cholesterol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking and hypertension increase the likelihood of a person experiencing a cardiovascular event.
However, more than two-thirds of Australian adults have three or more risk factors, with many unaware of their vulnerability to CVD.
Regular heart health checks are crucial for early detection and prevention of CVD. Despite this, more than a third of eligible individuals aged 45-74 have not had their blood pressure or cholesterol checked within the recommended timeframes.
General practices play an essential role in CVD prevention, early detection, treatment, and management.
In this toolkit, you can find quality improvement activity ideas, resources, and information that can assist your practice in focusing on CVD in primary health care.
Foundation of Quality Improvement
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Foundation of Quality ImprovementViewHide
The foundation of quality improvement outlines what quality improvement (QI) is, why undertake QI and what are the key components of QI.
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Model For Improvement (MFI) TemplateViewHide
This MFI template has been adapted from the Institute of Healthcare Innovation to develop, test, and implement changes in general practices participating in Southwestern Sydney PHN’s Quality Improvement in Primary Care Program (QIPC).
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MFI WalkthroughViewHide
This is a step-by-step instruction to guide you on how to complete the MFI.
Quality Improvement Activities
Below are examples of the heart health focused QI activities with POLAR Walkthroughs and sample MFIs. These have been developed to assist general practices improve patient care and health outcomes, and to achieve the PIP QI requirements.
Please note that due to the recent introduction of new CVD risk guidelines, this module does not include some QI activities that focus on a CVD at risk patient cohort until POLAR and clinical software have updated the new algorithm.
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PathologyViewHide
Heart Health: CVD patient – eGFR recording
Clinical guide for Best Practice software – How and where to document – Pathology
Clinical guide for Medical Director software – How and where to document – Pathology
Heart Health: CVD patient – cholesterol recording
Clinical guide for Best Practice software – How and where to document – Pathology
Clinical guide for Medical Director software – How and where to document – Pathology
Heart Health: CVD patient – high cholesterol but not on lipid-lowering medication
Clinical guide for Best Practice software – How and where to document – Pathology
Clinical guide for Medical Director software – How and where to document – Pathology
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MBSViewHide
Heart Health: CVD patient – 75+ Health Assessments
Clinical guide for Best Practice software – How and where to document – Health assessment
Clinical guide for Medical Director software – How and where to document – Health assessment
Heart Health: CVD patient – GPMP (Care Plan)
Clinical guide for Best Practice software – How and where to document – GPMP
Clinical guide for Medical Director software – How and where to document – GPMP
Heart Health: Heart Health Check (HHC)
Clinical guide for Best Practice software – How and where to document – Heart health check
Clinical guide for Medical Director software – How and where to document – Heart health check
Heart Health: CVD patient – Home Medication Review
Clinical guide for Best Practice software – How and where to document – Home medication review
Clinical guide for Medical Director software – How and where to document – Home medication review
Tips & Tricks
Private Bookmark
It is not always easy to remember what filters have been applied to obtain the required patient cohort, especially when using multiple filters.
The Private bookmark function is available on all POLAR reports. By creating your bookmark, a single click from the bookmark list will allow you to retrieve all previously applied filters needed for the patient cohort.
To learn how to set up a private bookmark Click here
Correct documentation
For POLAR to extract the most accurate data, it is important each item is correctly documented in the patient’s file. Data mapping of each tab is available in the Help menu, to guide clinicians in documenting care items in the correct place in their clinic’s medical software.
Helpful Resources
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Clinical Support ResourcesViewHide
South Western Sydney PHN | How practices tackle cardiovascular disease using POLAR
South Western Sydney PHN | Quality Improvement for heart failure
The Heart Foundation- Heart Health Toolkit
Get Healthy NSW | Health Professionals
Assessing and managing cardiovascular disease risk – 2023 Australian guideline and calculator
Medicare Benefits Schedule- Heart Health Assessment
Stroke Foundation- for health providers
Information and Support
Please email enquiries to CQIsupport@swsphn.com.au for further information or support with the toolkit.