Combined clinic puts patients first

Renal nurse Bernadette Taylor, Dr Sam Donaldson, diabetes nurse Sharon Munsie, and Dr Adrian Kark getting ready for the first clinic.

People with both diabetes and kidney disease can now see their specialists at a new one-stop clinic.

The monthly clinic at North Lakes Health Precinct brings together chronic kidney disease nurses, diabetes educators, and two specialist doctors. The clinic is supported by a LINK Innovation grant to trial the combined model of care during 2016. Metro North’s LINK grants support partnerships to address complex health issues which cannot be addressed by a single service or hospital.

Renal clinical nurse consultant Bernadette Taylor said the new clinic reduces patient travel time to clinics and offers access to specialists who can assist with both chronic diseases.

The combined clinic was proposed after the chronic kidney disease team discovered that almost half their clients were also attending the community diabetes clinic. Through LINK funding, the two services were able to develop the pilot program at North Lakes, with support from endocrinologist Dr Sam Donaldson and nephrologist Dr Adrian Kark.

Over the course of the trial, the team expects to see about 50 new and continuing patients. While the initial numbers are small, the benefits to the patients and the health service are huge. Unmanaged diabetes is the main cause of chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis.

Bernadette Taylor said the program will help patients better manage both conditions, preventing or delaying the need for dialysis, and reducing hospital admissions.

Queensland has the country’s highest rate of hospital admission for diabetic complications. Chronic kidney disease affects one in nine adults.