COORDINARE has partnered with Silverchain to launch a new free health prevention pilot designed to lower the risk of heart disease among adults living in South Eastern NSW. 

The initiative, Healthy Hearts Healthy Minds, will be initially offered at nine GP practices across the region and delivered by Silverchain’s nursing team. Funded by COORDINARE, the initiative aims to improve cardiovascular health and overall wellbeing through proactive, community-based care. 

COORDINARE’s Acting CEO, Melissa Neal, said improving cardiovascular health is a priority health condition for South Eastern NSW, emphasising the importance multidisciplinary health and community engagement to improve health.  

Rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD), related hospitalisations, and deaths in South Eastern NSW are among the highest in the state^. In 2022–23, there were 1,564 hospitalisations attributed to CVD in the region. 

Ms Neal added, “The nurse-led Healthy Hearts Healthy Minds program is based on the principles of patient centred care. It aims to help people who are at risk of CVD by enhancing their understanding of their health and supporting them to develop skills to manage and make active and informed decisions about their health.”    

The Healthy Hearts Healthy Minds program involves Silverchain nurses working with GPs to identify eligible patients to undertake an assessment based on the Heart Foundation’s Heart Health Check Toolkit to develop an action plan. Nurses will assist patients to access services and supports including health coaching, enabling them to self manage their heart health and wellbeing.  

Silverchain nurses will also make referrals to community care providers, including allied health professionals such as dieticians or exercise physiologists. They will also ensure patients receive additional supports to ensure they can lower their risk of heart disease by: 

Healthy Hearts Healthy Minds services will be provided face-to-face and via telehealth where needed. A referral from a GP, who is based in South Eastern NSW is required to enrol on the Healthy Hearts Healthy Minds program. GPs participating in Healthy Hearts Healthy Minds include: 

This program is funded through the “PHN commissioning of Multidisciplinary teams” funding stream, as part of the Australian Government’s Building a Stronger Medicare package.