A program that offers early intervention for people with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip is widening its scope on the Mid North Coast.
The NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation developed the Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program (OACCP). It focuses on early, conservative management of knee and hip osteoarthritis.
The program has been successfully running on the Mid North Coast since 2011. It has mostly involved patients on hospital waiting lists. A funding boost means the program can now be extended to non-waitlisted patients to provide earlier intervention.
Treatments under the OACCP are multidisciplinary. They may include physiotherapy, dietetics, nursing and occupational therapy.
The program aims to maintain or improve osteoarthritis symptoms, optimise function and quality of life and slow disease progression. It also seeks to improve readiness for surgery and rehabilitation if surgery has been determined as the best option.
Program participant Beverley is one patient who has seen significant improvement in her knee osteoarthritis since enrolling in the OACCP. Beverley described her condition on initial assessment as ‘not good inside, rather nervy’. At the time she could walk only about 200 metres.
Since attending the exercise programs and dietitian reviews, she reports feeling ‘more comfortable’. She says she is continuously improving.
“I always walked out feeling better, it’s just been brilliant,” says Beverley.
As well as the OACCP exercise groups, she is now on the road to self-management of her osteoarthritis, doing daily home exercises and twice-weekly hydrotherapy. She is also incorporating the OACCP dietitian’s advice and says it was ‘really useful finding out what to eat and what to avoid’.
Beverley says the pain in both her knees has completely subsided since starting the program, She has ceased all pain medications and is able to get on with her daily activities without interference.
Importantly, her knees no longer limit her walking, so she is able to enjoy going away on holidays in her retirement. Both Beverley and her surgeon agree that total knee replacement is unnecessary and have cancelled her planned surgery.
In the Mid North Coast Local Health District, there are OACCP clinics in Camden Haven, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Nambucca Heads and Coffs Harbour. General practitioners are welcome to refer patients to the program to promote early management, before surgery is considered.
For more information, refer to the HealthPathway for Osteoarthritis (Knee and Hip) Chronic Care
Username: manchealth
Password: conn3ct3d
Or contact the OACCP coordinators:
Port Macquarie Base Hospital
Andrea Cartwright
(02) 5524 2159
Coffs Harbour Health Campus
Andrew Wong
(02) 6656 5277