Page 54 - Regional Services Plan 2016/19

2.8 Radiology services (Midland Radiology Action Group)
Chair and Clinical Lead: Dr Alina Leigh – Taranaki DHB Project Manager: Philippa Edwards Lead Chief Executive: TBC
Context:
The five Midland DHB Radiology Departments work together to share education, information and images regionally and MRAG provides the opportunity for the departments to work on initiatives of a regional nature. MRAG is a resource for the Midland DHBs to provide connectivity between hospital service delivery design and the diagnostic services to support these. MRAG reps attend the National Radiology Action Group (NRAG) meetings quarterly informing radiology conversations at a national level.
Midland DHBs face challenges due to increasing demand, inequitable access, and the sustainability and affordability of services within a financially constrained landscape. Radiology departments are a support service and need to be responsive to DHBs meeting national priorities, targets and the implementation of new service delivery models and pathways. They have the challenge of responding nimbly within a costly equipment based environment and where there are often challenges due to emerging technologies faster than the workforce and skill base.
To be responsive MRAG will pursue radiology participation earlier in the development of clinical pathways and service delivery models.
Key Objectives:
1. Wellness is a key theme in 2016-19 RSP, using the Pae Ora framework.
2. Aligning with the 5 strategic themes of the NZ Health Strategy
 People powered – people led service design for high need populations with a particular focus on Cancer Pathways and Timelines
 Closer to Home – ensure equitable access criteria that is clinically and financially sustainable and delivered as close to home as is
feasible
 Value and high performance – wait time indicators will be used for all modalities and referrers across the region
 One Team – a focus on best practice will be enabled with the implementation of national access criteria based on clinical need.
Capability stocktakes across the region will identify where current and potential capacity and bottlenecks exist, enabling a regional
approach to capital investment
 Smart System - working with the regional IS e-space team to inform development of e-referrals, data repositories and links to other
radiology provider studies performed information. A data informed regional approach to determine the opportunities that exist to meet service demands i.e. CT Colonography, CT Coronary Angiography, MRI Multiple Sclerosis, vascular and interventional access around the region. Working with MOH on National Patient Flow data collection.
Planned Outcomes for 16/17:
The MRAG work program for 2016/17 initiatives provide for tangible value while also providing a leadership and monitoring role.
In 2016/17 tangible outcomes from the 4 initiatives will be:
1. CT pipeline model - a regional pipeline model for the CT modality to provide DHBs a regional and local understanding of volumes and sources of demand. To support meeting future demand i.e. CTC, CTCA
2. US workforce – a proposal to CEs on the Sonographer workforce shortage with a gap analysis and solutions to home grow Sonographers as an effective option to minimise the workforce shortage within the Midland Region
3. Cancer Streams/Pathways – involvement to improve the value proposition and performance delivered by working closely with the Cancer Network and other services, on their referral criteria, timeliness required, pathway development and the Choosing Wisely methodology
4. Work closely with regional and national initiatives with links to Radiology Services - Clinical access criteria with reference to local pathways, CWS, referral projects, shared RIS links and access, the viability of a virtual regional CTCA service etc.
Additionally leadership, monitoring and benchmarking will be provided for :
 Midland DHB performance against MOH timeline KPIs for CT, CTC and MRI
 Sharing of service improvement initiatives within the 5 Midland DHB Radiology departments to build on the training and momentum provide to date by the MOH
Measures*:
1. Ministry of Health CT, MRI, CTC measures and indicators
2. CT– 95% of accepted referrals for CT scans will receive their scan within six weeks (42 days)
3. CT Colonoscopy (Subset of CT) – 95% of accepted referrals for CT Colonoscopy will receive their scan within six weeks (42 days)
4. CT Angiography (Subset of CT) – 95% of accepted referrals for CT Angiography will receive their scan within six weeks (42 days)
5. MRI - 85% of accepted referrals for MRI scans will receive their scan within six weeks (42 days)
6. Agreed National Patient Flow system changes are implemented
7. Representation, attendance and participation in national and regional clinical group activities.
* by ethnicity, locality and deprivation where possible
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INITIATIVES OF REGIONAL NETWORKS AND CLINICAL ACTION GROUPS