19 research outputs found
Identifying gaps in primary care services: reaching the āunreachedā
In an equitable system, the health needs of communities are matched by the services
provided. Whilst a recent review of the performance of the health systems of seven
countries by the Commonwealth Fund reported that āAustralia and the U.K. continue to
demonstrate superior performanceā, it is important that health services provided to
Australians are able to be utilised by all who need them. This RESEARCH ROUNDup
investigates the concept of equity in health, endeavours to describe those who are most
likely to be āunreachedā by primary health care services, and how they may be identified
Avoiding hospitalisation: effective primary care interventions
Ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) ārepresent a range of conditions for
which hospitalisation should be able to be avoided because the disease or condition
has been prevented from occurring, or because individuals have had access to
timely and effective primary careā. This RESEARCH ROUNDup investigates the
factors that may predict avoidable hospital admissions. It also provides an overview
of interventions that may be effective in reducing avoidable hospitalisations, and
follows from a previous issue that examined the scope of ACSCs in Australia, and
their reliability as a measure of primary health care (PHC) performance
Local community reporting models for regional primary health care organisations
Community reporting models used by primary health care organisations (PHCOs) in New Zealand,
Canada (Ontario), England and Scotland were reviewed. The roles, functions and mandated
community engagement requirements for these PHCOs varied, shaping the scope of their reporting.
All countries included in this report recognised the importance of engaging the community in
healthcare and the value of communication between service providers, service commissioners and
the public. All countries were involved in receiving information from the community to inform
decisions relating to the planning, design and implementation of health care services. It was,
however, difficult to ascertain the extent of this involvement, and how well disadvantaged groups
were included in this process
Avoiding hospitalisation: ambulatory care sensitive conditions
This RESEARCH ROUNDup examines the scope of ambulatory care sensitive
conditions (ACSC) in Australia, and their reliability as a measure of primary health
care (PHC) performance. Avoidable hospitalisation statistics for Australia, Victoria
and New South Wales are presented. Complications of diabetes are the most
common ACSCs encountered in Australia. Rurality and socio-economic disadvantage
are linked to avoidable hospitalisation
Continuity and safety in care transitions: communication at the hospital/community care interface
In the health care setting, risks to patient safety may arise when there is poor written
or verbal communication between personnel during times of care transition. Care
transition refers to the āset of actions designed to ensure the coordination and
continuity of healthcare as patients transfer between different locations or different
levels of care within the same locationā. Transitions occur at staff shift changes
within health care institutions, transfer between institutions, or, at the interface
between acute and community care. This RESEARCH ROUNDup outlines
communication mishaps that may occur in the latter instance, during discharge from
hospital to community based care
Initiatives to integrate primary and acute health care, including ambulatory care services
Most people, at some time in their lives, will require health care services from multiple health care
providers, whether it is for short-term unexpected ill health, long-term chronic conditions or
co-morbidities that cross disciplines (eg. substance-related conditions and mental health).
Integration of health services is particularly important for patients with chronic and complex
conditions as they must frequently negotiate a path through different health care sectors, including
primary, acute and ambulatory care services, as well as the public and private health jurisdictions.
Standardised pathways for the more common chronic conditions may be needed to enable
seamless transitions and avoid negative outcomes that may result from delays, duplications and
errors in a system that operates as multiple independent organisations
Kimberley Transitions, Collaborating to Care for Our Common Home: Beginnings...
This scoping paper is a preliminary introduction to the aspirations, interrelated literature and research involved in development of the Kimberley Transitions Project. Our focus is on Western Australiaās Kimberley region, a landscape of immense natural and cultural significance. Along with the rest of Australia, and indeed the world in which we all live, the Kimberley is on the verge of major climate, political, social and economic change. The direction of changes being proposed by governments and industry are regularly criticised, both globally and locally, by individuals and organisations concerned about damage to its rich biodiversity and cultural integrity. With the aim of collaboratively generating Kimberley-based responses grounded in local knowledges, a mix of disciplines and emerging international theories, scholars and relevant groups have come together to form a Kimberley-wide practical and shared research agenda. One of the key influences behind the project is an international transitions movement which aims to generate collaborative change incorporating a process of transition. Locally identified issues using local knowledges and capacity are central to its evolution. A conceptual and theoretical framing known as ātransitions discourseā is also emerging internationally and nationally, one that foregrounds diverse epistemologies and challenges mainstream economics and associated ideologies, such as neoliberalism. Via the Kimberley Transitions project, Kimberley-based researchers and collaborators aim to support and further document social, cultural and economic change inspired by the transitions movement and informed by transition discourses. It has the Kimberley landscape and people at its heart; a transformative approach featuring cultural healing, intellectual rigour and an ethos aimed at enduring, practical and interconnected sustainable outcomes.https://researchonline.nd.edu.au/nulungu_research/1001/thumbnail.jp
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Right care, right time, right place: improving outcomes for people with spinal cord injury through early access to intervention and improved access to specialised care: study protocol
Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury is a devastating condition impacting adversely on the health and wellbeing, functioning and independence, social participation and quality of life of the injured person. In Australia, there are approximately 15 new cases per million population per year; economic burden estimates suggest 2 billion dollars annually. For optimal patient outcomes expert consensus recommends expeditious transfer (ā24 hours) in a Spinal Cord Injury Unit. Examining current health service and clinical intervention pathways in this Australian population-based sample, in relation to their outcomes, will provide an understanding of factors associated with patient flow, resource utilisation and cost, and patient and family quality of life. Barriers to streamlined effective early-care pathways and facilitators of optimal treatment for these patients will be identified