What are the common barriers, enablers and strategies to improving health outcomes in Indigenous chronic illness care and child health? Stakeholders interpreted aggregated quality improvement data on Indigenous chronic illness care and child health, enabling the research team to identify important ‘drivers’ and strategies for better health outcomes. These included effective staff recruitment and retention...

The Australian Government Department of Health’s 2014 Review of After-hours Primary Health Care (Australian Government Department of Health 2014a) found that after-hours primary health care delivery in Australia is functioning suboptimally. The transition of Medicare Locals (MLs) to Primary Health Networks (PHNs) provides a timely opportunity to re-evaluate and re-orientate after-hours primary care services. All...

The Commonwealth's 'Healthier Medicare' package aims to reduce the number of avoidable hospital admissions by providing personalised health care plans to chronically ill patients. The 'Health Care Homes' model will see patients nominate a single GP practice as their 'home base.' That provider will be responsible for the ongoing coordination and management of their care...

This Evidence Check examines the effect of comprehensive care in acute settings on patient outcomes. The evidence shows that initiating a comprehensive care program has the potential to lead to increased patient satisfaction, increased involvement of patients in shared decision making and reduced length of stay, cost of care and hospital readmission rates. While no...

Australia’s health system is under increasing pressure to provide better quality, affordable and accessible health care, based on universal access to Medicare. A long term strategy is needed, to offer a better patient journey for those with chronic and complex health conditions; to investigate innovative care and funding models; better recognition and treatment of mental...