Information for PHNs - Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard

Resources for Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to support local services and clinicians using the Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard.

By supporting the dissemination and implementation of the Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard, primary health networks (PHNs) will contribute to reducing:

Variation in treatment across Australia
Unnecessary use of imaging for diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis
Burden of disease and disability for people with knee osteoarthritis
Surgical interventions without prior optimal non-surgical management - including exercise, physical activity and weight management.

The following activities and resources are recommended for PHNs supporting local services and clinicians to implement the Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard.

Social media

Promote the Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard and related resources using sample posts for X (Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn which you can adopt or adapt for your region.

Newsletter content

Publish an article using the sample newsletter content and consider incorporating a local patient story, or interview with a local clinician.

Web content

Host our freely available supporting resources , or link to relevant content on our website that includes links to information, education, and support provided by other organisations for consumers, clinicians, and healthcare services.

Disseminate through local networks

Identify local services, initiatives and networks that should know about the Standard and target communications accordingly, for example general practices, allied health services providing musculoskeletal services, weight management services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services, and seniors networks.

Resources available are listed below and include a General Practitioner (GP) quick guide, a self-management action plan and tips for effective communication about self-management of knee osteoarthritis.

Monitor local data

Consider using the clinical care standards indicators as part of local quality improvement at a PHN level. Identify other data sources relevant to the care of osteoarthritis or find ways to monitor local variation.

HealthPathways

Encourage the local HealthPathways program to prioritise localisation and review of the local osteoarthritis pathway - consider including the suite of Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard resources as a minimum.