Several new programs have been implemented in the Division this year so it is early days yet for evaluation although there is good evidence for better health outcomes for all the initiatives being implemented.
All the new programs hope to bridge the chasm that exists for many patients leaving hospital and taking up life again in their normal environment.

Medication problems in this area lead often to re admissions that can be prevented in at least 60% of cases according to the limited data that exists.
It is very exciting at last to see the first 'at high risk 'patients being visited by a community liaison pharmacist from the hospital and then appropriate arrangements being made with the patient's GP and community pharmacist.
Referral for a Home Medicines Review will be integrated into measures that can help bridge the chasm and so in an area where community pharmacists are usually not involved their expertise will be tested in this collaborative initiate.
Children leaving hospital after an emergency exacerbation with asthma are also the targets for a project where an asthma educator is assigned to make follow up home visits, liaise with the usual GP and pharmacist and act as a 'coach 'for the child and parents in managing asthma.
HMR arrangements have been shared with this project also where a pharmacist can visit and make a difference to the outcomes involving medication administration.
The third project involves cardio-vascular patients who having had an MI or other related hospital admission are assigned a 'coach' from the Division area where they reside who liaises with their GP, community pharmacist and the patient on a regular schedule.
The Coach we have working on this project in the Melbourne Division is a young dietician graduate.
She has enrolled several patients so far and after an initial visit calls them regularly on the phone for a session of encouragement and follow up of exercise regimes, diet, medication etc.
Referral to the GP for a medication review will enlist the pharmacist where it is an obvious benefit to the patient.
Life coaches are now growing phenomena, taking a role akin to sports training with regard to the whole person, psychologically, physically and mentally.
Taking control is the goal for clients encouraged by these life coaches.
The phenomena of utilising similar strategies for a medical model is quite new but logical and proven for the cardio-vascular and asthma patients.
Working in the community with GPs and pharmacists in a team with patients is facilitated by the 'coaching'approach and patients are not left to themselves to fend in isolation.
Costs are proven to be less than hospital readmissions and benefits to patients' life style and security are priceless.