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
Guide to strengthening integration for Medicare Locals
Developing a guide to improving integration for Divisions as they transform into Medicare Locals.
HERON: Using population health data to improve health services, policy and planning
This program aims to develop and implement research into equity of access to quality primary health care (PHC) using population health data collections
Integration and continuity of care: background paper for National Chronic Disease Strategy
The government commissioned seven background papers to support the development of a Commonwealth/state National Chronic Disease Strategy
Integration, Coordination and Multidisciplinary Care: A Systematic Review
The complexity of the health system means that integration and coordination will always be problematic in one area or another. This study will define integration, coordination and multidisciplinary care within the Australian health and determine which strategies have been shown to be effective under what circumstances, and the cost of effective strategies.
Investigating Best Practice Primary Health Care for Older Australians with Diabetes Using Record Linkage
The study will examine the reach of incentives to improve PHC provision to patients with diabetes and the impact of improved care on outcomes such as hospitalisation.