2005 Finalist

Development of cellulitis guideline and treatment kit for general practitioners to prevent hospital admissions

A treatment kit for GPs which allows patients suffering from painful cellulitis to be treated by their own GP and recover at home rather than having to go into hospital is having beneficial effects for both patients and hospitals.

The patients are generally happier at home and hospitals are enjoying reduced costs and less competition for beds.

The kit was developed by Waitemata Primary Options, a collaborative project between Waitemata DHB and Waitemata primary care teams.

Primary Options recognised that many hospital admissions were for cellulitis - a common condition which often requires treatment with intravenous antibiotics. The project group believed this treatment could be provided by a GP with appropriate back-up.

Working with a local GP and relevant hospital specialists and nurses, Primary Options designed a guideline and treatment kit for GPs. Patients are now treated with intravenous antibiotics, in their own GP's surgery, over three days - resting at home in between doses. The patient pays only for the initial consultation.

Since the introduction of the kit the proportion of cellulitis patients admitted to hospital has dropped to less than 15 percent of the total number of patients with this condition.

Waitemata Primary Options
Contact: Pam Boyce 09 442 1648
Email: pboyce@chs.co.nz