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National Service Guidelines for the Management of Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation in Remote Australia

Category: Policy/Strategy
Date: July 2006
Sub Category:Policy/Strategy
Place:
State/Country:Australia
Subject Matter:Health and Community Services
URL: http://www.nt.gov.au/health/renal/national_service_guidelines.pdf
Summary Information:
The National Service Guidelines for the Management of Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation in Remote Australia ('the Guidelines') were endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers' Conference in July 2006.

The Guidelines were developed by a working group of the Australian Health Ministers' Conference which included service providers, renal clinicians, consumers and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector.

The Guidelines aim to improve quality and access to renal health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons in remote and rural Australia.
Detailed Information:
Purpose

The National Service Guidelines for the Management of Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation in Remote Australia aim to enhance access, range of services, counteract inequalities and improve the quality of dialysis and transplantation services available for Indigenous Communities in remote and rural Australia. The treatments encompassed are chronic kidney disease management, haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation.

The Guidelines identify best practice, including performance measures and operational guidelines for clinicians. This is aimed at improving clinical outcomes, service delivery and indicating likely resource requirements for planners. There are four basic guidelines:

'1. Primary care staff are aware and support the conditions, activities and services necessary to improve access and health care for people with various stages of kidney disease residing in rural and remote areas.

2. Dialysis facilities in rural and remote locations embrace the activities and functions necessary for the provision of high quality dialysis treatments including the support and monitoring of clients undertaking home-based therapies.

3. Regional dialysis units are established in areas where the need for local people to relocate to urban areas for treatment is significant. Regional dialysis units are aware of and strive to develop the activities and infrastructure necessary to offer a more comprehensive service to the local community that moves beyond maintenance dialysis. This would include renal replacement therapy, education, training and support for the primary care area in chronic kidney disease management.

4. Tertiary renal units develop the services and infrastructure necessary to provide and support a high quality comprehensive renal service for clients and health providers in remote Australia. This includes chronic kidney disease management, education, surgical and psychosocial preparation for renal replacement, home therapies training and transplantation services.'(Guidelines, 2)

Each Guideline is substantiated by its objective, rationale and 'markers of good practice' which address 'clinical processes, workforce development, client education and support, systems and infrastructure' (Guidelines, 3). For example, a marker of good practice for Guideline Four is that staff participate in cultural safety and cultural respect training, and that staff will receive ongoing renal education at minimum three monthly intervals (Guidelines, 19).

Related Entries

Organisation
  • Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council
  • Australian Kidney Foundation
  • National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

  • Glossary

    Policy/Strategy | Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHOs) (Australia)

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