Chronic - QAAMS

Quality Assurance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Services (QAAMS) is an Australian Government funded national program that provides a culturally appropriate and clinically effective diabetes management service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

QAAMS uses on-site point-of-care pathology testing for haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and urine albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) conducted on the Siemens DCA Vantage under a quality management framework.

The QAAMS Program has been proven to be a successful and sustainable project. Established in 1999, operations have progressed and expanded over the past 20 years.

There are over 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sites enrolled in the national QAAMS Program.

Research outcomes

There has been a statistically significant increase in stakeholder satisfaction (clinicians, patients and device operators) after the introduction of point-of-care testing through QAAMS.

Point-of-care testing conducted by Aboriginal Health Workers is of equivalent analytical standard to that of the laboratory.

Access to point-of-care testing has resulted in statistically significant improvements in diabetes control among groups of diabetes patients across different communities.

Leadership forum

Christopher O'Brien
National and New South Wales/ACT Leader

Ann-Marie Mitchell
Queensland Leader

Priscilla Elmendorp
South Australian Leader

Elizabeth Dhurrkay
Northern Territory Leader

Helen Edwards
Western Australian Leader

Jade Kelly
Victorian/Tasmanian Leader

Staff from our Centre

Professor Mark Shephard (Co-Director)

Dr Susan Matthews (Co-Director)

Collaborators

Peter Graham
RCPA Quality Assurance Programs Pty Ltd.

Samantha Shepherd
RCPA Quality Assurance Programs Pty Ltd.

Rizzi De Leon
RCPA Quality Assurance Programs Pty Ltd

Sabrina Koetsier
Siemens Healthcare

David Dunn
QAAMS Program Clinical Support Officer

Projects That Work Award November 2013

QAAMS was recognised as one of only five global recipients of the Projects That Work award from the Foundation for the Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER).

This prestigious award recognises projects of greater than three year's duration which have had a significant impact on 'Improving Rural and Community-based Healthcare.'

Flinders University Logo

Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042

South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online