I grew up in the military community. While not a veteran myself, I am incredibly proud of the military histories of my father, grandfathers, and many other family members who served in the Australian Defence Force. These people were, and are, deeply committed to service and their communities, even after their time in the military came to an end.

As a proud Australian, I am thankful for the selfless character it requires to commit yourself to public service. Part of this experience means being familiar with the challenges veterans face to accessing healthcare.

A lack of timely and appropriate access to medical care has been recognised as a contributing risk factor to veteran suicidality, as highlighted in the Royal Commission in Defence and Veteran Suicide Final Report. In a country that offers some of the best medical care in the world, this is a tragedy.

Whole of Patient Approach

My experience in the global medical sector, both professionally and as a patient, has exposed me to international best practice – which oftentimes translates as a Whole of Patient approach.
 
This approach acknowledges the interconnected impact multiple conditions have on a patient, and is focused on holistic, coordinated treatment from multiple clinicians – both Allied and Specialist.
 
Veterans are complex patients who commonly experience multiple physical and mental conditions. They are also exposed to multiple barriers to healthcare, such as a complicated medical system, over-burdened DVA Claim process, and cultural impacts from their career in the ADF. As a cohort, they have the most to benefit from a Whole Of Patient care approach.
 
To achieve this, we need a strong, trustworthy team. We have worked hard to develop a strong medical hub in our Brisbane clinic – comprised of service-aware General Practitioners, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Pain Specialists, and Nurses. To provide articulated, bespoke medical services that cater for a wide range of medical issues, we have also built a network of providers across Australia, ensuring that our GPs can develop treatment plans, and manage CVC plans, that involve robust escalation treatments for complex, chronic diseases.