Allied health: integral to transforming health (original) (raw)
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Ten clinician-driven strategies for maximising value of Australian health care
Australian health review : a publication of the Australian Hospital Association, 2014
To articulate the concept of high-value care (i.e. clinically relevant, patient-important benefit at lowest possible cost) and suggest strategies by which clinicians can promote such care in rendering the Australian healthcare system more affordable and sustainable. Strategies were developed by the author based on personal experience in clinical practice, evidence-based medicine and quality improvement. Relevant literature was reviewed in retrieving studies supporting each strategy. Ten strategies were developed: (1) minimise errors in diagnosis; (2) discontinue low- or no-value practices that provide little benefit or cause harm; (3) defer the use of unproven interventions; (4) select care options according to comparative cost-effectiveness; (5) target clinical interventions to those who derive greatest benefit; (6) adopt a more conservative approach nearing the end of life; (7) actively involve patients in shared decision making and self-management; (8) minimise day-to-day operati...
Managing health care in Australia: Steps on the health care roundabout?
Australian Journal of Primary Health, 2003
This paper explores some of the lessons of the coordinated care trials in Australia in the context of managed care in America and asks how do we best manage our finite health care dollars for the most equitable and effective outcomes for whole populations?
Challenges in health and health care for Australia
The Medical journal of Australia, 2007
The next Australian Government will confront major challenges in the funding and delivery of health care. These challenges derive from: Changes in demography and disease patterns as the population ages, and the burden of chronic illness grows; Increasing costs of medical advances and the need to ensure that there are comprehensive, efficient and transparent processes for assessing health technologies; Problems with health workforce supply and distribution; Persistent concerns about the quality and safety of health services; Uncertainty about how best to balance public and private sectors in the provision and funding of health services; Recognition that we must invest more in the health of our children; The role of urban planning in creating healthy and sustainable communities; and Understanding that achieving equity in health, especially for Indigenous Australians, requires more than just providing health care services. The search for effective and lasting solutions will require a c...
Objective: Queensland Health established a Ministerial Taskforce to consult on, and make recommendations for the expansion of scope of practice of allied health roles. This paper describes the findings from the stakeholder consultation. Methods: The Ministerial Taskforce was chaired by the Assistant Minister for Health and included high level representation from allied health, nursing, medicine, the unions, consumers and universities. Widespread engagement was undertaken with stakeholders representing a staff from a wide cross-section of health provision, training and unions. Participants also tendered evidence of models incorporating full scope and extended scope tasks undertaken by allied health professionals. Results: The consultation incorporated 444 written submissions and verbal feedback from over 2oo participants. The findings suggest that full scope of practice is often restricted within the Queensland public health system, resulting in underutilisation of allied health staff and workforce inefficiencies. However, numerous opportunities exist to enhance patient care by extending current roles, including through prescribing and administering medications, requesting investigations, conducting procedures and reporting results. The support needed to realise these opportunities includes: designing patient-centred models of service delivery (including better hours of operation and delegation to support staff); leadership and culture change; funding incentives; appropriate education and training; clarifying responsibility, accountability and liability for outcomes. The Taskforce has developed a series of recommendations and an implementation strategy to operationalise the changes. Conclusions: The Ministerial Taskforce was an effective and efficient process for capturing broad based engagement for workforce change while ensuring high level support and involving potential adversaries in the decision making processes.
2015
Background The research practice gap (RPG) is resulting in sub optimal health outcomes, unnecessary services and wasted expenditure. There is limited evidence for effective interventions to address this gap. This thesis is in response to a request to formulate evidence based recommendations about how to develop a research network (RN) and knowledge translation (KT) in Allied Health (AH) to facilitate research and reduce the RPG. Objectives The aim of this study was to identify current evidence and main issues, obtain feedback from key stakeholders and formulate recommendations relevant to the development of an AH RN and KT in AH in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) to facilitate research and reduce the RPG. Methods Evidence was obtained from two sources. Firstly, a rapid review of the literature was undertaken to identify current evidence and key issues pertaining to the development of a RN and KT. Secondly, we conducted semi structured and focus group interviews and an on line survey collecting both qualitative and quantitative data. The data were then analysed using thematic analysis and SPSS Software. Results While there was a wealth of literature on RNs in health there was limited information in the literature about the effectiveness of RNs and KT strategies particularly in AH. However, interviews undertaken with key stakeholders and an on line survey produced a rich deposit of ii data. The main finding was that limited time and competing priorities were the most significant issues that prevented involvement in developing a research network and in knowledge translation, despite research being highly valued. There was an indication that collaboration was very important, in particular between researchers and practitioners and also between and within AH professions. Other strategies identified as important were the need for funding to support the network particularly including a coordinator, to directly involve all AH professions and to operate on a 'virtual' basis, in addition, to seek support from leadership, to involve consumers, to implement mentorship and knowledge brokers, to change established practice and to complete development of the RN within two years. Conclusions The data collated has added to the current limited knowledge base. A review of the literature and consultation with key stakeholders indicated that the key strategies that can assist with the development of a RN and KT in AH in the ACT were addressing limited time and competing priorities, enhancing collaboration and obtaining funding support. It is also recommended that the RN should aim to create new knowledge but primarily focus on KT. The RN should directly involve all AH professions driven by a coordinator. This is a challenging task but offers significant potential benefits in particular the implementation of health evidence.
Best practice in the health sector
Journal of Quality in Clinical Practice
The Commonwealth Government is increasing its emphasis on public health and quality of care, which will require a capacity to measure health outcomes and develop strategies for continuous improvement. The reforms being considered by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) are designed to improve the quality of health services by allowing the Commonwealth to concentrate on broader strategic analysis and performance measures. The health industry will need to take a pivotal role in improving service delivery through collaboration with industry leaders and aiming for best practice.
Allied, scientific and complementary health professionals: a new model for Australian allied health
Australian Health Review, 2009
There is no standard or agreed definition of ?allied health? nationally or internationally. This paper reviews existing definitions of allied health, and considers aspects of allied health services and service delivery in order to produce a new model of allied health that will be flexible in a changing health service delivery workforce. We propose a comprehensive model of allied, scientific and complementary (ASC) health professionals. This model recognises tasks, training, organisation, health sectors and professional regulation. It incorporates traditional and new services which are congruent with allied health foci, allegiances, responsibilities and directions. Use of this model will allow individual organisations to describe their ASC health workforce, and plan for recruitment, staff training and remuneration.
Australian health services: too complex to navigate
2019
The Mitchell Institute's mission is to strengthen the relationship between evidence and policy, and, to improve equity of opportunity and success in both health and education. The Australian Health Policy Collaboration (AHPC) is a health policy think within the Mitchell Institute. We have built a collaborative approach with Australian health experts, academics, researchers and policymakers to translate the best evidence into effective policy development and implementation centred on the current and future impacts of chronic diseases in Australia.
Achieving better health in Australia in the next five years
The Medical Journal of Australia, 1993
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