Introduction to the Innovative Multi-Disciplinary Clinic

One of Bridges & Pathways current priorities is to raise funds for the South Australian ME/CFS/FMS Clinical and Research Collaboration to establish an Innovative Multi-Disciplinary Clinic to centralise services and co-ordinate research projects involving different University research teams.

The proposed Multidisciplinary Clinic and Pathways of Care are based on 17 years of collaborative work and information from practicing clinicians and over 8000 Australian patients. Our findings are that management options are available in the community, but they now need to be validated and made available for all, through patient centred tailored multidisciplinary treatment plans.

Services will be multidisciplinary, coordinated at General Practice Clinics and consistent with Australian Medicare Chronic Disease Management Funding and Private Heath Funding arrangements. ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Management Services will include medical, allied health, integrated providers and educational programs (one-to-one and group) and community activities.

Collaborators include General Practitioners, Medical Specialists, researchers from the three South Australian universities (Adelaide, Flinders, and UNISA), physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists, case managers, community agencies and consumer organisations.

The Clinic Team will work with researchers to validate new tests and treatments for Australian practice settings and thus increase their availability and cost effectiveness. It will incorporate the latest research into best practice quality improvement processes for health practitioners, which will improve services in the shortest possible timeframes. These clinic priorities are guided by patient outcomes.