About the project
The Enhancing Stroke Care project aims to reduce variation in Victorian hospitals and improve time to appropriate stroke intervention in line with the National 30/60/90 Stroke Targets.
This will be achieved by embedding strategies to improve coordination, flow and access within the hyper-acute phase of the consumer journey and strengthening capabilities within the healthcare workforce.
Objectives
- Reduce variation of care in the hyperacute phase for ischaemic stroke
- Build partnerships and create opportunities for collaboration between regional and metropolitan services
- Reduce waste and improve efficiency of patient flow from initial presentation to diagnosis and treatment
Background
Stroke is a severe life-threatening event that requires hospitalisation and is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia.
In 2023, the Australian Stroke Coalition set about the 30/60/90 National Stroke Targets, reflective of best practice in stroke care with evidence of improved patient outcomes.
Currently, these targets are not being met across Victoria indicating variation in care and resulting in poor patient outcomes, including increased mortality, disability, care-related secondary complications and/or readmissions.
How to get involved
Email a member of the Enhancing Stroke Care Collaborative team at strokeimprovement@safercare.vic.gov.au.
Solution design
The intervention design draws on the recommendations from the Australian Stroke Coalition National Action Plan and is centred around 3 primary areas for intervention:
- Coordinated stroke response systems
- Optimised clinical management
- Stroke capable workforce.
An adaptive collaborative has been established and launched in December 2024, with 17 Victorian health services and Ambulance Victoria. The work will assist services in meeting 4 of the 5 National Stroke Targets over a 12-month period.
The collaborative will then be followed by a sustain period where data would continue to be collected to understand if improvements made have been sustainable. A toolkit providing strategies for improvement will be developed to be used across the state following the conclusion of the Stroke Collaborative.
Project milestones
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Collaborative established with 17 Victorian health services | November 2024 |
| Learning session 1 | December 2024 |
| Learning session 2 | May 2025 |
| Learning session 3 | October 2025 |
| Summative event planned before proceeding to sustain period | December 2025 |
Participating services
View all participating services
View more View less- Albury Wodonga Health
- Alfred Health
- Ambulance Victoria
- Austin Health
- Bendigo Health
- Echuca Regional Health
- Grampians Health Ballarat
- GV Health
- Latrobe Regional Health
- Monash Health
- Northeast Health Wangaratta
- Peninsula Health
- Royal Melbourne Hospital
- University Hospital Geelong
- Werribee Mercy Hospital.
- West Gippsland Healthcare Group - Warragul Hospital
- Western District health care
- Western Health
Priority area
This project supports our broader effort to reduce avoidable harm and unnecessary variation in healthcare.