Clinical Services

Primary Health Care

At each of our sites PAMS aims to deliver high quality culturally appropriate primary health care. An integrated service delivery model staffed by a multidisciplinary team (of both resident and visiting health professionals) provides a broad range of primary health services to the Martu people of our communities. The majority of day to day care is provided by a team of remote area nurses who also provide after-hours emergency care as required. Our medical practitioner is based at Jigalong but undertakes fortnightly trips via charter plane to our other three communities of Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji. Core primary health care programs delivered at each of our sites include child and maternal health, school health, immunisations, well person checks across the lifespan, sexual health, mental health, rheumatic heart disease, school health, maternal health and men’s and women’s health.

Chronic Disease Management Program

The Martu population that PAMS services has a very high burden of preventable chronic conditions. Our primary health care focus, coupled with our comprehensive Chronic Disease Management Program aims to both prevent the development of chronic disease and also screen for early warning signs. Clients and families with chronic disease are reviewed regularly and supported to participate as fully as possible in their own self-management. Through the provision of ongoing monitoring, education and support PAMS aims to assist clients to live their best lives. Clients receive chronic disease medications free of charge at all PAM’s clinics. Chronic disease clients are supported to travel to Perth, Newman and Port Hedland to undertake specialist review and a number of visiting services (including a renal physician and allied health teams) travel regularly to each of the PAMS communities to provide care to clients.

Child and Maternal Health Program

The Maternal & Child Health Program delivered by PAMS embraces the concepts described in the “National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013 – 2023” and the supporting frameworks as described in the “National Framework for Health Services for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children & families”. The program’s goals is to provide evidence based, best practice services to ATSI mothers and babies ensuring a strong foundation for lifelong physical and mental health and social and emotional wellbeing.

Key Elements of Service Delivery

• Acknowledgment of the importance of the period from pre-conception and conception through the early years of a child’s life.
• Services developed around a primary health care model.
• A Multi-disciplinary, collaborative team based approach.
• A skilled and culturally competent workforce.
• Continuity of care.
• Comprehensive and holistic assessments which ensure appropriate referrals if required.
• Flexible service delivery.
• A regional model which ensures collaboration and integration of services.

Visiting Specialists

PAMS hosts a range of visiting medical specialists at each of its four communities. These include:

• Paediatrician
• Ear and Hearing Health Specialists – Audiologists and ENT (Ear Science Institute of Australia and Australian Hearing)
• Optometrist (Outback Vision)
• Renal Physician

Clients are supported through the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme to attend other specialist clinic reviews outside of the Martu homelands at Newman, Pt Hedland or Perth.