Mindgardens will address the burden of brain disorders by creating outstanding care for brain disorders by combining the efforts of world-class clinicians and researchers and through the active participation of consumers patients, the public and governments. We will create new models of care that will change the way we approach, diagnose, treat, monitor, prevent and support our communities. We will develop new models of care that will afford all Australians the best life possible.
The Mindgardens Model will support:
- adults at risk and in need of mental health and other services, through new specialist and community care “holistic” hubs.
- new models of care from the first crisis contact point, whether this occurs through general practice or through emergency services.
- integrated care model that connect community services and general practice through partnership with Primary Health Networks (PHNs)
- new data technologies to support integration across different systems through a shared health record, to deliver prevention and early intervention services through the internet to our communities, and to offer timely intervention that may avert hospital services or emergency presentations.
Apex Clinics, Community Hubs and Technology Services
Finding effective solutions to complex brain disorders requires bold thinking: a reimagining of the way in which we coordinate and integrate efforts and investment to improve patient outcomes by combining the skills and experience of researchers, clinicians, educators and consumers. In the creation of a holistic integrated approach, a critical element is development of Apex clinics.
Apex clinics are the mechanism by which specialist services can be brought concurrently to all patients with brain disorders, thereby providing specialist services across comorbidities within the same “one-stop shop”.
These clinics will be integrated with “community hubs”, and general practice infrastructure to create targeted treatments and supports tailored for each individual. These community hubs may necessarily be specialised (drug and alcohol services; ageing services) but they will necessarily be integrated. Technology services across this architecture will provide:
- integrated information systems
- prevention services that reach out proactively to the community
- timely services to avoid unnecessarily hospitalisation or emergency presentation
These technologies will provide the basis for the development of new apps and services, and the collection of data sets that can promote big data analyses and deliver clinical insights.
Technology supports e-Health programs
Mindgardens will have a major focus on e-Health online mental health programs, which are highly effective in treating depression and anxiety. Mindgardens will build and pilot integrated e-mental health infrastructure and shared industry/health models. The interventions will be rolled out to hubs across Australia to treat and prevent neurodegenerative and substance use disorders.
Mindgardens’ researchers have a strong track record in this field and have developed platforms that can be easily scaled up. There is a strong component of monitoring of outcome so that the programs can be continuously improved.
The technologies include:
1. Web-based online clinics
2. Mobile technology prevention and coaching programs
3. Apps and interactive watch integration for sleep, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol use and healthy ageing. These will include technology treatments integrated with existing interventions.
Clinical trials engagement
A key component of the Mindgardens vision is that all patients and the public will be invited to participate in clinical trials. We believe that the intersection of health care and research activity will rapidly advance our understanding of the brain and lead to new discovery and innovation in health care. The use of clinical trials provides the means by which we can ensure that our new models of care are effective. Patients receive best practice care and treatment, participate in innovative new treatments and importantly, contribute to developing better methods of health care.