A multi-disciplinary team of health staff from CHHC, along with consumer representatives from the local Parkinson’s Disease support group, have joined forces to identify a range of strategies aimed at improving the care of patients with Parkinson’s Disease, including:

•     Electronic monitoring of patients with Parkinson’s Disease and automatic referral to pharmacy for more efficient medication management 

•     Enhanced access to commonly used medications for Emergency Department staff

•     Visual prompts on a patient’s medication charts and at the patient’s bedside highlighting commonly prescribed medications that should be avoided for someone with Parkinson’s Disease

•     Ongoing education of staff about Parkinson’s Disease and medication management.

Over the next two weeks, there will be an information stand in the main foyer of Coffs Harbour Health Campus with details of the initiatives being rolled out across the hospital and the opportunity for staff, patients and carers to provide feedback or suggestions.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that typically presents with symptoms such as slowness of movement, muscle rigidity, instability, tremor, depression and anxiety.

It is estimated that there are 80,000 Australians living with Parkinson’s Disease. A diagnosis can occur at any age with the most common age of diagnosis being 65 years. The disease can also affect younger people, with 20 per cent of those diagnosed under the age of 50 and 10 per cent under the age of 40.

There is no known cure for Parkinson’s Disease, but there are effective treatment and therapy options that can help manage symptoms so people with Parkinson’s Disease can continue to enjoy independent and productive lives.