Gastroenterology Network
Digestive system diseases are the third most common cause of hospitalisation in NSW, accounting for 10.6% of all hospitalisations in 2004-2005 (11.1% in males and 10.2% in females). Clinicians - doctors, nurses and allied health professionals - working within the NSW public hospital system across NSW to provide care to patients with a range of gastroenterological disorders, including but not limited to:
- Diseases of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws
- Diseases of the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum (including gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcers, motility disorders)
- Diseases of the appendix
- Hernia
- Other diseases of the intestines
- Cancers of the digestive system including colorectal cancer
- Diseases of the peritoneum
- Non-infective enteritis, colitis e.g. inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis)
- Diseases of the liver including hepatic cancer and viral hepatitis
- Disorders of the gall bladder, biliary tract and pancreas
- Other diseases of the digestive system
The Gastroenterology Network was established by the Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce (now ACI) in late 2005. Its main objective is to promote high quality care for these patients and to reduce inequities in access to services and improve outcomes.
The Network has built strong collaborative relationships amongst clinicians and with NSW Department of Health, the Cancer Institute NSW, the Clinical Excellence Commission, the NSW Institute of Medical Education and Training (now Clinical Education and Training Institute) and Rural Health Priority Taskforce.
Gastroenterology Network News
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Parenteral Nutrition Pocketbook
The Agency for Clinical Innovation launched its Parenteral Nutrition (PN) Pocketbook, an easy to use reference for managing PN in adult patients, on 13 November 2010. To find out more information and to access the pocketbook, click here.
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NSW State-Wide Endoscopy Information System
In June 2010, NSW Health finalised the purchase of the EIS licence agreement from ProVation Medical. The implementation order is currently being finalised and then the EIS will be rolled out to public hospitals in NSW over the next two years. The implementation process is being supported by the Gastroenterology Network’s EIS Implementation Working Group. To find out more information, click here.
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Nursing Scholarships
The ACI Gastroenterology Network provides scholarships for gastroenterology and hepatology nurses participating in the UTS Graduate Certificate in Acute Care (Gastroenterology). For information, please see nursing.
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Proposed Nurses Forum
A key issue raised with the Network is that gastroenterology nursing is increasingly specialised and there are limited opportunities for the workforce to upskill in other areas. The Network is planning a Nurses Forum for early 2011 as an opportunity to broaden the baseline of information available for nurses and allow them to raise issues with the Network. If you would like to find out more information, complete the expression of interest form.