Diabetes rapid access clinics (DRACs) have been identified by the New South Wales Agency for Clinical Innovation as a key component of an integrated diabetes model of care.1 This cost-effective model provides fast and comprehensive outpatient review and has been shown to circumvent hospital admission, decrease hospital length of stay and improve patient outcomes.2-5 Based on this approach, a nurse practitioner-led DRAC was established in February 2015 at Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) in Sydney as a pilot program to assess the suitability of the DRAC for scalability across the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD).
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- 1. Endocrine Health Network Working Party. Diabetes model of care 2008. Perth: Health Networks Branch, Department of Health, Western Australia; 2008. http://www.healthnetworks.health.wa.gov.au/modelsofcare/docs/Diabetes_Model_of_Care.pdf (accessed June 2016).
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- 4. Benson G. The role of disease management in diabetes care. Diabetes Spectrum 2010; 23: 116-118.
- 5. Ahmed RM, Green T, Halmagyi GM, Lewis SJG. A new model for neurology care in the emergency department. Med J Aust 2010; 192: 30-32. <MJA full text>
We thank David Small of the NSLHD Performance Unit for his assistance with cost analysis and interpretation, and Lyn Olivetti of NSLHD Chronic and Complex Care for facilitating interdisciplinary meetings.
No relevant disclosures.