QAAMS Program Brochure

QAAMS Leaders Team

Title if needed The

QAAMS Program Providing a culturally safe and clinically effective diabetes diagnosis and management service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

QAAMS has an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leaders Team comprising leaders from each state and territory.

The QAAMS Leaders Team advises on culturally safe practices; providing cultural governance, clinical guidance and support and advocacy for the program and its participants.

For further information visit our website or contact us:

qaams.org.au QAAMS MANAGEMENT TEAM T 08 8201 7555 E qaams@flinders.edu.au

QAAMS LEADERS TEAM See website for phone and email contacts

The QAAMS Program

In the QAAMS Program a small, portable pathology testing device called the DCA is used to measure Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), a marker of diabetes control, on a small finger-prick sample of blood.

The HbA1c test can also be used by QAAMS registered services to diagnose diabetes in clients at risk of developing the chronic condition.

The QAAMS Program has been running continuously in Aboriginal medical services since 1999.

There are currently over 200 sites from all states and territories across Australia enrolled in the program.

Aboriginal health professionals carry out these tests at their health service, and test results are available in 6-7 minutes.

This allows for immediate clinical decisions on diabetes education and management, while the client is still at the health service.

Urine albumin creatinine ratio (ACR), which allows the early detection of kidney disease (a complication of diabetes) can also be measured on the DCA using a small urine sample.

QAAMS provides training and resources for health service staff on the use of the DCA device, plus ongoing support, at no cost.

Special Medicare rebates (MBS items) are available to participating QAAMS services only.