This content is part of a paid partnership with Diabetes WA.
Rural GPs can now access specialist endocrinology support through a new service from Diabetes WA.
The Diabetes Connect for Country WA service provides an easy way for general practitioners to talk through complex patient cases with an endocrinologist colleague.
The service, which launched in late 2024, means GPs can support diabetes patients in regional areas without having to refer them on to hospitals or specialists.
Dr Indi Wijegoonewardene, GP at Leonora Medical Centre in the Eastern Goldfields, said he found it a collegial way to access expert diabetes advice.
“I spoke to Dr Seng Khee Gan about a patient with complicated diabetes. It was like a little masterclass on the phone for me, where you’re learning on the run,” Dr Wijegoonewardene said.
“I learned more about how to manage this complex patient, and now I will know more when I see the next one.”
Dr Wijegoonewardene added that the ability to book a time slot for a multidisciplinary case conference (MDCC) or a callback is especially helpful given the pressure on rural GPs.
“Prior to this, I would have to call colleagues in Kalgoorlie or an endocrinologist at St Charles Gairdner Hospital, but those people are often hard to catch and it takes time calling around. This feels less rushed.”
The aim of Diabetes Connect is to give rural patients with diabetes access to a broader health team while keeping their care within the community.
Dr Wijegoonewardene agrees that is essential for many of his patients.
“Having a Diabetes Connect consultant on the phone with me, a GP they are familiar with, for an MDCC is helping us with issues around medication compliance, plus the patient hasn’t had to make the journey to Kalgoorlie or Perth,” he said.
Dr Greg Ong, a Diabetes Connect endocrinologist, said the team are receiving a diverse range of calls.
“We’re getting direct questions about medication and the general direction to take with particular cases,” Dr Ong said.
“Some patients have multiple issues and it’s more about discussing overall goals for their care. We’re also helping GPs who are new to the region, or to working in the Australian health system, and need to troubleshoot issues around diabetes service accessibility, education, medications and the complexities of the PBS.”
For rural GPs, Diabetes Connect promises to recreate the sort of team-based care that can happen more naturally in busy tertiary institutions.
“We find that GPs often know what’s best for the patient, but they want to bounce it off a colleague,” Dr Ong added.
This might mean a one-to-one conversation for a second opinion or assistance with putting together a management plan. Or it can be a multi-disciplinary case conference with a diabetes educator or Aboriginal health practitioner also present.
Dr Ingrid Hanemaaijer, a GP in Busselton for 21 years, said being able to quickly check in with a colleague can prevent patients waiting months to visit a hospital.
“Being able to get hold of a specialist easily can make patient care far more efficient,” Dr Hanemaaijer said.
“Often all we need is the answer to just one question, or there’s this one missing link. One of the biggest frustrations is when something isn’t working, but the specialist review isn’t for another six months. Diabetes Connect provides the option to get answers right away.”
Dr Hanemaaijer said she has mostly used the service for patients requiring insulin, when she has had to escalate or de-escalate within the injectable range.
She would like to see similar programs introduced to provide quick access to a wide range of specialists.
“If this was available across the whole health system, it would save a lot of time and angst. We know most of it as GPs, but sometimes we just need a bit of guidance. I think of this as such an efficiency of service.” GPs can book a call back or MDCC through the Diabetes WA website or call 08 9436 6270 to speak directly with an endocrinologist when there is one available.