Features of effective primary health care models in rural and remote Australia: a case study analysis

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Author(s)
Wakerman, John
Humphreys, John S
Wells, Robert
Kuipers, Pim
Jones, Judith A
Entwistle, Philip
Kinsman, Leigh
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2009
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Objective: To describe the factors and processes that facilitate or inhibit implementation, sustainability and generalisation of effective models of primary health care (PHC) service delivery in rural and remote Australia. Design: Case-study approach, including review of relevant literature, interviews with key informants, site visits and direct observation. Thematic analysis and template analysis were used with interview transcripts. An expert reference group provided feedback and advice on policy relevance. Setting and participants: Six PHC services in small communities across rural and remote Australia were selected ...
View more >Objective: To describe the factors and processes that facilitate or inhibit implementation, sustainability and generalisation of effective models of primary health care (PHC) service delivery in rural and remote Australia. Design: Case-study approach, including review of relevant literature, interviews with key informants, site visits and direct observation. Thematic analysis and template analysis were used with interview transcripts. An expert reference group provided feedback and advice on policy relevance. Setting and participants: Six PHC services in small communities across rural and remote Australia were selected based on results of a previous systematic review; they reflected diverse rural and remote settings and PHC models, and the multidisciplinary nature of PHC. Sites were visited, and 55 individuals associated with the establishment and operation of these services were interviewed between July 2006 and December 2007. Results: Independent and template analysis confirmed the usefulness of a conceptual framework, which identified three key "environmental enablers" - supportive policy; federal and state/territory relations; and community readiness - and five essential service requirements - governance, management and leadership; funding; linkages; infrastructure; and workforce supply. Systematically addressing each of these factors improves effectiveness and lessens the threat to service sustainability. Conclusions: Evidence from existing effective rural and remote PHC services can inform the health care reform agenda, in Australia and other countries. The evidence highlights the need for improved governance, management and community involvement, as well as strong, visionary political leadership to achieve a more responsive and better coordinated health system which could help eliminate existing health status differentials between cities and rural areas. In Australia, establishment of a single national health system, operationalised at a regional level, would obviate much of the current inefficiency and poor coordination.
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View more >Objective: To describe the factors and processes that facilitate or inhibit implementation, sustainability and generalisation of effective models of primary health care (PHC) service delivery in rural and remote Australia. Design: Case-study approach, including review of relevant literature, interviews with key informants, site visits and direct observation. Thematic analysis and template analysis were used with interview transcripts. An expert reference group provided feedback and advice on policy relevance. Setting and participants: Six PHC services in small communities across rural and remote Australia were selected based on results of a previous systematic review; they reflected diverse rural and remote settings and PHC models, and the multidisciplinary nature of PHC. Sites were visited, and 55 individuals associated with the establishment and operation of these services were interviewed between July 2006 and December 2007. Results: Independent and template analysis confirmed the usefulness of a conceptual framework, which identified three key "environmental enablers" - supportive policy; federal and state/territory relations; and community readiness - and five essential service requirements - governance, management and leadership; funding; linkages; infrastructure; and workforce supply. Systematically addressing each of these factors improves effectiveness and lessens the threat to service sustainability. Conclusions: Evidence from existing effective rural and remote PHC services can inform the health care reform agenda, in Australia and other countries. The evidence highlights the need for improved governance, management and community involvement, as well as strong, visionary political leadership to achieve a more responsive and better coordinated health system which could help eliminate existing health status differentials between cities and rural areas. In Australia, establishment of a single national health system, operationalised at a regional level, would obviate much of the current inefficiency and poor coordination.
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Journal Title
Medical Journal of Australia
Volume
191
Issue
2
Publisher URI
Copyright Statement
Wakerman J, Humphreys JS, Wells R, et al. Features of effective primary health care models in rural and remote Australia: a case-study analysis. Med J Aust 2009; 191 (2): 88-91. © Copyright 2009 The Medical Journal of Australia – reproduced with permission.
Subject
Biomedical and clinical sciences
Primary health care
Psychology