Inala Primary Care named 'Medicare Champions' at the Stronger Medicare Awards
Brisbane South PHN congratulates Inala Primary Care for being selected as one of 20 of the nation’s finest health professionals and health teams recognised as Medicare Champions in the Stronger Medicare Awards.
40 years of Medicare celebrated at the Stronger Medicare Awards
Marking 40 years of Medicare, the Australian Government established the Stronger Medicare Awards, calling for public nominations earlier this year. The awards recognised and honoured health professionals working in clinics, health centres, general practices and other primary care settings across Australia for their outstanding efforts to improve community health [2].
Nominees and award winners showcased a strong commitment to their communities by ensuring access to high-quality healthcare and seamlessly collaborating across diverse health fields to deliver coordinated and culturally sensitive care to patients.
Inala Primary Care named Queensland’s Medicare Champion Clinic
From the Brisbane South PHN region, Inala Primary Care was recognised for delivering critical services to some of Queensland’s most disadvantaged patients with complex health needs. The practice was celebrated for its innovation and commitment to serving its culturally and linguistically diverse community, including many people of refugee backgrounds, and First Nations peoples [3].
Highlighting the importance of collaboration and teamwork in its success, Inala Primary Care CEO, Tracey Johnson explained, ‘we routinely partner with other organisations to integrate social workers, community lawyers and a wide range of allied health providers into our practice’.
She said, ‘None of this would be possible without the dedication of our creative and passionate team, who consistently go above and beyond for our patients and for one another’.
Tracey took to social media to express her gratitude after the event commenting that their work in disadvantaged areas required innovative approaches.
‘In order to strengthen our healthcare system...we need to invest in innovation, build skills in clinical governance, enhance genuine practice management capabilities, and ensure funding addresses equity for those who are most disadvantaged and in need' [4].
Inala Primary Care’s approach to a providing its multidisciplinary model of care for patients has inspired similar general practice models of care across Queensland and nationally due to its success. The practice continues to explore ways to improve patient care, including a focus on data insights to track practice performance and enable social prescribing workflows.
Free support for your general practice model of care
Brisbane South PHN works with general practices on implementing quality improvements to deliver person-centred care to patients. To arrange free, tailored support for your practice, phone our Quality Improvement team on 07 3864 7540 or email support@bsphn.org.au.
Story sources
- Stronger Medicare Awards < https://www.health.gov.au/medicare-turns-40/stronger-medicare-awards >
- Announcing Australia’s Medicare champions < https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/announcing-australias-medicare-champions?language=en >
- Finalists < https://www.health.gov.au/medicare-turns-40/finalists#queensland>
- LinkedIn post