COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it, yet the ability of programs to adapt to new virtual ways of working has meant that Westmead Joint Case Conferencing program has supported more patients than ever before. The Westmead Joint GP and Specialist Case Conference (JGPSCC) program is a resource for GPs to help build primary care capacity to manage patients with type 2 diabetes.
The program, which was originally designed as a face-to-face service, switched to a telephone and video service early in the pandemic and now offers patients ongoing diabetes management from the comfort of their own home or GP practice.
The Westmead JGPSCC team conduct 30-minute consultations with GPs and their patients about medication options and formulate a plan of care. This service is available in 39 suburbs within the Westmead and Blacktown local health areas and allows GPs to stay up to date with diabetes management guidelines and medications.
Case Study 1:
Matthew* is a 54-year-old man who has been living with type 2 diabetes for over ten years. Haemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) is a measure of how well controlled your blood sugar has been over a three-month period and it provides a good understanding of how high, low, or normal blood glucose levels are. The ideal HbA1c level for someone with diabetes is below 6.5%, yet before taking part in the Westmead JCC program, Matthew’s HbA1c levels were at 13%. He was also not checking his blood sugar levels (BSLs). He had poor adherence to his diabetes medications and felt very discouraged from managing his diabetes as he felt as if his efforts had not achieved the benefits he had expected.
Since joining the Westmead Joint Case Conferencing program, Matthew has started checking his BSLs and is now registered with the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). He has started taking his diabetes medications regularly and his diet has improved significantly. He also had a trial of free continuous glucose monitoring which shows that his estimated HbA1c is now at a healthy 6.3%.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of this patient
Case Study 2:
Jarrah* is a 55-year-old man who has had type 2 diabetes for over 15 years. He was taking Metformin and Trulicity to manage his diabetes and has not tolerated any other classes of diabetes medications.
Jarrah’s HbA1c was elevated, at 10.3%. He was declining insulin to improve his HbA1c levels due to a fear of injections.
Westmead JCC worked closely with Jarrah to address his fears and demonstrated how to administer insulin to him via videoconference. He initially started basal insulin and is now on BD mixed insulin to optimise his control. Jarrah is no longer fearful of insulin injections and has already managed to improve his HbA1c to 8.2%.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of this patient
To read more about the Westmead JGPSCC Program, read the attached flyer or visit their website.
This information is correct as of 15 April 2021.