Enabling primary care led services in Ireland towards integrated care for chronic disease prevention and management

6^th World Nursing and Healthcare Conference

August 15-17, 2016 London, UK

Eileen Savage, Elizabeth Weathers, Josephine Hegarty, Lydia Mulligan, Anthony o Reilly, Carol Condon, Jenifer Cronly, Elaine Lehane, Aine Horgan, John Browne, Colin Bradley, Jodi Cronin, Aileen Murphy, Vera McCarthy, Irene Hartigan, Maura Flynn and Jonathan Drennan

University College Cork, Chair in Nursing & Head of School, Ireland

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Evidence from the international literature is that the prevention and management of chronic diseases through integrated care should be primary care GP led supported by primary care specialists and secondary care specialist services. Primary care led services towards integrated care marks a shift away from hospital centric services, which has traditionally dominated healthcare in many countries including Ireland. The shift towards primary care led services is now a strategic priority at Government level in an effort to tackle the growing burden of chronic disease. The emphasis on integrated care is to avoid fragmentation of services between primary and secondary care and to ensure the delivery of â�?�?the right service, at the right time, in the right place by the right teamâ�?. In this paper, the evidence on how best to support a national approach to primary care led services within a model of integrated care for chronic disease prevention and management is examined. The features of a well-designed model of care that contribute to improved clinical, process and service utilization outcomes will be presented. The implications and related challenges for implementation will be considered with application to Ireland. Lessons learned from other countries will inform this discussion.

Biography :

Eileen Savage is a Chair in Nursing at the School of Nursing & Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland. Her primary research interests relate to chronic illness management across the lifespan. She has conducted a number of funded commissioned reports, systematic reviews and studies relating to chronic illness management. She has published widely in the international literature and is on the Editorial Board of Chronic illness. She leads a research cluster on chronic illness management at University College Cork and has developed strong collaborative interdisciplinary research relationships both nationally and internationally.

Email: e.savage@ucc.ie