Integrated care innovation

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Tags: Health Sciences, medicine, summer-2011

Dr John Kastrissios at UQ Health Care Annerley

UQ Health Care Annerley’s Clinical Director, Dr John Kastrissios, has the soul of a country GP, but is helping to deliver a new era of patient care in metropolitan Brisbane.

His experiences of rural general practice growing up in the Queensland town of Mundubbera made general practice his career choice after graduating from UQ’s medical program in 1983.

“I was encouraged by the possibility of being able to practice in a really holistic way,” Dr Kastrissios said.

“General practice is the most varied and broad field of medicine and the most directly connected to people and communities.”

Over the past 26 years, he has enjoyed forging that connection with patients of the Springwood Group General Practice.

“It is a pretty regular occurrence to receive cards, flowers and chocolates from our patients. We have a wonderful relationship with them, which is really uplifting for all the staff,” he said.

There is a clear connection with Dr Kastrissios’s role at UQ Health Care Annerley which opened early this year. He is preparing the practice to deliver integrated, multidisciplinary, patient-focused care. The super clinic will also be a training hub for GPs, other health professionals and UQ students.

This model of care is based on the belief that effective collaboration between health professionals offers the best care for patients.

“The aim is to provide integrated, seamless care, delivered locally for patients and to train GPs who can go out and use the method in their own practices,” he said.

Through his role as Chair of the Greater Brisbane South Medicare Local, Dr Kastrissios is keen to provide GPs with the opportunity to train at Annerley.

“Medicare Locals have a mission to support integrated care and UQ’s super clinics can help deliver this,” he said.

“They offer the opportunity on a greenfield site with enough resources and space to undertake innovation. At the same time, we are building capacity for GPs to take on more meaningful and rewarding work.”

By Marlene McKendry

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