Spectrum of Care

​A key component of the HealthOne NSW model of care is the provision of coordinated and integrated primary health care services that encompass:

Health promotion and illness prevention are also known as primary prevention. The goal of primary prevention is to reduce the likelihood that a disease or disorder will develop. Primary prevention activity involves eliminating or reducing causes or determinants of ill health, controlling exposure to risk, and promoting factors that are protective of health.

 

Early detection and intervention is also known as secondary prevention. Secondary prevention interrupts, prevents or minimises the progression of a disease or disorder at an early stage. Secondary prevention strategies include screening at-risk populations at an asymptomatic stage and early intervention.

 

Continuing care for people with chronic conditions, or chronic disease management, has been described as an intervention designed to manage a chronic condition using a systematic approach to care and potentially employing multiple treatment modalities.

 

The prevention aspect of chronic disease management, also known as tertiary prevention, aims to minimise the impact of established disease and improve function through effective treatment and rehabilitation. Elements of chronic disease management that have been found to most frequently impact on health, function and quality of life are self management support (in particular development of self efficacy) and multidisciplinary team care with practice nurses and allied health care.

 

The range of services provided by each HealthOne NSW service varies from site to site and is planned and delivered in response to the needs of each community. The range of services reflects the spectrum described above, and can include immunisation, the provision of healthy lifestyle clinics and information sessions (e.g. smoking cessation, cardiac fitness), child and maternal health care, diabetes education, continence assessment, mental health care, cardiac rehabilitation, palliative care, drug and alcohol services and a number of dedicated Aboriginal health services.

 

Several HealthOne NSW services also provide or co-ordinate access to other government and non-government health and human services to assist clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people from Aboriginal communities and others who require assistance to access health services and information. The range of HealthOne service partners can include the Department of Communities and Justice, the NSW Refugee Health Service, NSW Juvenile Justice, Aboriginal Health Services, Transcultural Mental Health Services, interpreter services and others.