Health System Integration and Primary Health Care Development
Description and aims
This stream is focused on the role of primary health care in improving health and social care integration. Integration is approached at a number of levels and perspectives with the ultimate objectives of improving health and well being, service user experience and system efficiency/effectiveness.
Key current research areas
Primary Health Care System Development
PHC System Development is concerned with the development of organisations, systems, capacity and frameworks needed for a strong Primary Health Care system. This includes the organisational structures including LHDs, PHNs, and emerging Australian models of Patient Centred Medical Homes and Neighbourhood
Improving integration of services and continuity of care
Improving Integration is concerned with the way that different parts of health and related systems work together to provide comprehensive and well-coordinated primary health care. This includes integration within primary health care and with other sectors, including hospitals.
Access to Primary Health Care
Access to PHC is concerned with patterns of access to quality Primary Health Care. This work includes studies of access to primary health care for people with diabetes, using data from population health surveys and linking records from hospital and other data sets.
Key partners
Partnerships and working together at individual and organisational levels are central to improved integration. Our key partners are consumer and health professional representative organisations, PHNs, LHDs, community organisations and related sectors such as local government, education, employment etc.
Stream lead
Margo Barr leads this stream.
Completed
Projects
Review of the impact of GPLOs on the integration of the general practice/community care and hospital sectors
This project was one of a series of investigations of GP-hospital integration undertaken for the Department, and built upon an earlier review of the role of GPLOs.
Reviewing the contribution of general practice to a well functioning and comprehensive primary health care system
This report is built on the earlier report: Mapping the role of General Practice in strengthening the primary health care sector 1990-2000 and will assess how far recent developments in general practice have contributed to a more integrated and effective primary health care system for Australia.
Socio-economic determinants of access to and use of Primary Health Care for management of asthma
This project considers the use of population health surveys to provide information on management strategies used by people with asthma, and the socio-economic determinants of access to and use of asthma care.
Strengthening health care in the community
Based on previous work, this study highlights research and development of conceptual frameworks for PHC and community based health services and identifies PHC and community health good practice service delivery models.
Strengthening Health Care in the Community
Developing a guide to strengthening health care in the community, for those involved in planning and managing community based health services
