About CHIP

“Chronic disease is fast becoming the world's next tsunami, swelled by increasing levels of obesity, unhealthy eating, physical inactivity and tobacco use. Sixty per cent of all deaths worldwide are now due to chronic diseases, principally heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes..… In  Australia, medical care costs for a person diagnosed with diabetes are almost double than that for a person without the condition, such that more than $3 billion is spent annually on the health care costs of diabetes—expenditure that could be better spent on conditions which cannot be prevented or treated adequately.”  John Catford, Editor in Chief, Health Promotion International - 2007

Health Costs - Health costs are escalating with the aging of the population, lifestyle changes have contributed to a growing epidemic of obesity and chronic disease.  Mental illness is contributing substantially to the burden of disease and stigma related to this area has contributed to a lack of resources and poor integration of achieving mental wellness in prevention and health care services. 

Health Care Delivery - Health care delivery is complex and fragmented by: funding sources (Commonwealth, State, and Private Insurance); location of facility (community, general practice, hospitals); the public and private management arrangement; issue or disease or condition or age specific orientation of services; special project initiatives funded through an array of resources from the Commonwealth and State.

The Patient Journey - The patient journey through this is also often complex and the level of information sharing, appropriate consultation and sharing care responsibility is mixed and sometimes compromised, less effective and efficient than would be desired. 

e-Records - Realization of the full benefits e-patient record creation, use and information sharing has been the ambition of many in different parts of the system.  The implementation of this within and across services has been limited by a number of factors. All the benefits IT systems can afford are not realized especially those benefits related to information access across the complex health care delivery system. The advances are often being adopted in many other sectors (e.g. banking, retailing and transport) and in other highly industrialized economies.  Now, however is the right time to make a substantial leap forward with the appropriate use of e-records in a better engineered information sharing environment.   

Western Sydney - Now these observations can apply widely to NSW and Australia.  However, what the Centre for Health Innovation and Partnership (CHIP) would like to focus on is how this applies to the area where SWAHS has a responsibility - people living in Western Sydney.  In January 2009 the Centre for Health Innovation and Partnership (CHIP) was formed in Sydney West Area Health Service (SWAHS) with a commission to mobilize leaders and organizations from multiple sectors interested in improving the wellbeing and health of people living in Western Sydney.  (See the terms of reference when CHIP was established).  In preventing ill health and wellbeing the real action needed lies largely beyond the health sector, although the health sector needs to take a central role in advocacy and partnership with others. 

STRATEGY
CHIP has defined its work in three areas: Prevention Programs, Health Innovation and Global Programs and has developed a single page strategy around each of these areas (see Strategy).

CHIP PARTNERS
CHIP is mobilizing leaders from multiple sectors to partner with in its work.  Ownership of projects and recognition of any success will largely remain with partners. (See a list of partners)

 RESOURCES
Two presentations illustrate the emerging vision for CHIP:

 1)    Alison McLaren, President of WSROC, and CHIP Leaders Forum Chair, presented to Departments of Local Councils, Treasury and Health and Aging in Canberra, July 2009.

 2)    Glen F Maberly’s, Director CHIP presented to the SWAHS Area Executive Directors Meeting, 10th August 2009.  

The CHIP UNIT
CHIP's Director Glen F Maberly reports directly to the Executive Director of Workforce Development, SWAHS, Mr Abd Malak.  CHIP has a small staff including, Jan Kang, Coordinator of Global Programs; Carla Edwards, Coordinator of Health Innovation; and Lorna Thomas, Program and Directors Assistant. CHIP has a Senior Advisor, Mr Warwick Neilley and MPH Graduate Students from Sydney University School of Public Health as Project Staff.

CHIP OVERSIGHT
CHIP has an Executive Management Team (EMT) to provide oversight to the CHIP Unit.  The SWAHS Chief Executive is chair of the CHIP EMT and other members are tier two Executive Directors and the Director of Public Relations.  

THE CHIP LEADERS FORUM
The vision and work of CHIP extends beyond SWAHS in three areas:

1. Prevention
2. Health Care Innovation
3. Global Programs

These are described on this website. The Chairs of the CHIP Leaders Forum are Ms. Alison McLaren, President of WSROC and Professor Steven Boyages, Chief Executive, SWAHS. The vision, strategic direction and work of CHIP are guided by the Leaders Forum Members. See members

THE CHIP ADVOCATES
CHIP is not an organization but a network of committed individuals that share a common vision and agree to work for a shared purpose. CHIP is inviting people from multiple sectors and with a variety of expertise to join the network and support projects. The CHIP advocates are invited to CHIP Forum where best practices and innovative ideas for action are explored. CHIP advocates are invited to join project activities and are included on CHIP regular communications.  If you are interested in becoming a CHIP advocate please contact the staff in the CHIP Unit.

LOCATION
Level 3 Administration Bldg
Westmead Hospital
Westmead NSW 2145
Phone (office)  +61 2 9845 7790 
Email Contact:  Jocelyn.Hickson@wsahs.nsw.gov.au