At the recent HCANZA conference in Auckland, keynote speaker James Maskell, author of The Community Cure, emphasized a transformative idea: the future of healthcare lies in community-driven collaboration. As healthcare professionals discussed innovations in chronic disease management, Maskell’s insights couldn’t have been timelier.
Chronic disease continues to strain healthcare systems worldwide, but what if the solution isn’t solely in medical advances, but in community collaboration? Teams of medical and allied health professionals, alongside health coaches and community resources, could deliver scalable solutions, bringing self-care to the local level.
In this spirit of collaboration, HCANZA has joined the Australian Self Care Alliance. Together, members are working to align public and private healthcare systems to engage patients throughout their health journey.
A modest but strategic investment is essential to enhance Australia’s self-care capabilities. This investment should focus on two areas: empowering individuals to practice self-care, and supporting self-care through policy and health system integration. Person-centred self-care is urgently needed to address non-acute and preventable illnesses, chronic disease management, and mental health services—ensuring long-term sustainability and affordability of Australia’s healthcare system. (Australian Self-Care Alliance Pre-Budget Submission 2024/25 p.2)
In The Community Cure, Maskell advocates for leveraging collaboration and community to address chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and mental illness. He argues that healing happens in groups, with patients actively participating in their care. Here’s why collaboration is crucial for tackling this health crisis:
- Patients as Active ParticipantsTraditionally, patients have been passive recipients of care. Maskell promotes a model where patients take an active role, becoming essential members of the care team. Group health settings foster learning, engagement, and ownership of one’s health.
- The Power of Group SupportManaging chronic diseases is challenging in isolation. Group health visits and peer-support programs create accountability, reduce isolation, and increase motivation—critical for managing conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
- Self-Care Through CommunityCommunities can support self-care more effectively than the traditional healthcare system. Group programs that focus on nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction provide social reinforcement and help sustain lifestyle changes.
- Healthcare Providers as FacilitatorsIn this collaborative model, providers become facilitators, guiding patients to resources and peer networks for long-term support. This approach reduces the burden on individual providers while offering patients comprehensive care.
- The Ripple Effect:Communities as Catalysts for ChangeGroup interventions create a ripple effect—family members and communities often become inspired to take charge of their health, making self-care and prevention more accessible and sustainable.
In Conclusion
The chronic disease crisis is complex and cannot be solved by one approach. As Maskell emphasizes, collaboration—where patients, providers, and communities work together—is a powerful tool for transforming chronic disease management. By embracing a community-driven, patient-centred model, we can empower individuals to take control of their health and drive lasting change through collective action.
Let’s champion a healthcare model where patients and communities collaborate to promote self-care, prevent illness, and inspire healthier lives.
