Announcing the recipients of the SPHERE Partnership Grants
SPHERE has announced the successful recipients of its 2024 Partnership Support Grants. These projects demonstrate innovative approaches to improving health outcomes through technology, patient-centred care, and comprehensive health solutions.
“The three projects, backed by SPHERE's Partnership Support Grants, exemplify the potential of innovative research and technology in transforming healthcare,” says SPHERE Executive Director, Professor Chris White.
“Each initiative addresses significant gaps in current healthcare models, promising substantial improvements in health outcomes and overall quality of life for diverse patient populations.”
Joining the Dots: A New Model of Continuity of Perinatal Mental Health Care for the “Missing Middle”
Led by Associate Professor Jane Kohlhoff, a member of SPHERE’s Early Life Determinants of Health (ELDoH) Clinical Theme, this project seeks to address a critical gap in perinatal mental health care. "Joining the Dots" is a pioneering model designed to support perinatal women experiencing mild-to-moderate psychological distress. This initiative will provide access to the Watch Me Grow-Electronic-Joining the Dots’ (WMG-E-JD) weblink, offering digital screening, monitoring for mental health and social care needs, anticipatory guidance, and reminders for developmental checks.
In addition to digital support, the project includes in-person wraparound care from clinical care navigators for those needing extra assistance. This comprehensive approach builds on previous successes in midwifery care navigation and digital health tools, aiming to create a scalable and cost-effective method to optimise outcomes for these women.
By providing early intervention and continuous support, "Joining the Dots" aims to reduce the risk of severe mental illness among perinatal women. This has far-reaching benefits, improving not only maternal mental health but also partner well-being, birth outcomes, and long-term child development. With the total cost of perinatal mental illness estimated at $877 million in Australia, this project has the potential to significantly alleviate the economic and social burdens associated with untreated perinatal mental health issues.
My Rare Mate: Co-designing Digital Innovations to Improve Care for People Living with a Rare Disease
Dr Elizabeth Palmer leads "My Rare Mate," a project aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals living with rare diseases (RD). Despite their collective prevalence, affecting two million Australians, rare diseases often result in fragmented and low-value healthcare due to their complexity and the dispersed knowledge about them.
"My Rare Mate" seeks to revolutionise care for RD patients through a co-designed digital platform that enhances communication, coordination, and accessibility of care. The project aims to overcome barriers such as poor healthcare provider knowledge and lack of coordinated care by introducing the "My Rare Passport Portal." This portal will include up-to-date patient summaries, management plans, emergency protocols, and a chatbot for timely expert support, ensuring that patients receive high-quality, person-centred care close to home.
Additionally, the "My Research Portal" will connect RD patients with research opportunities, facilitating participation in clinical trials and enhancing data collection. The "My Care Portal" will provide self-assessment tools and mental health support, improving access to necessary resources and enhancing psychosocial well-being.
By integrating these innovations, "My Rare Mate" aims to significantly improve the physical and mental health outcomes of RD patients, offering a more efficient and effective healthcare model.
Virtual Health Approach Providing Value-Based Care for Those with Chronic Comorbidities
Under the leadership of CI Professor Nigel Lovell, this project focuses on delivering value-based healthcare to patients with complex chronic comorbidities through a digital health solution. The project involves the integration of the TeleClinical Care (TCC) platform with the Hospital in the Home (HITH) service in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD).
The TCC-360 platform will be co-designed and implemented in phases, starting with integrating into existing community management and HITH services. This innovative platform, coupled with a secure clinician portal, will support real-time physiological measurements, teleconferencing, and rehabilitation through collaborations with partners like Microsoft Australia and Neuroscience Research Australia.
The project aims to enhance patient outcomes by providing personalised care, reducing hospital burdens, and creating a scalable implementation model. The comprehensive monitoring and evidence-based approach will support continuous improvement in the delivery of high-quality, value-based care.
By focusing on the integration of digital health solutions into clinical workflows, this project has the potential to transform chronic disease management, making it more efficient and effective for both patients and healthcare providers.