Australian health review : a publication of the Australian Hospital Association
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Safe and high quality health care is an objective that everybody supports. With so much written about it and everybody committed to it, why are we still struggling to achieve it? The successful acceptance and adoption of casemix provides some clues as to the answer. ⋯ The lessons from the casemix story can be applied to advance the safety and quality agenda. A good place to start is a determined campaign focussing on improving safety.
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This paper presents an outline of the socio-demographic features of the Australian Capital Territory (the ACT) and of its health care system. I describe how health care resources are allocated in the government sector, present a more detailed description of the way that hospital services are purchased, and summarise the government's policy directions for health. ⋯ In total, the ACT government appears to be on the right track. However, I argue that more rapid progress might be possible if there were greater collaboration between the Territory health authority and the relatively powerful private medical profession.
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The Australian Health Care Agreements govern the relationship between the Commonwealth and States about public hospital funding. The incentives enshrined in the Agreements can shape policy priorities. ⋯ This paper argues that the negotiations should focus on two key areas where Commonwealth-State frictions are high but reform is feasible. Specifically it is suggested that the Commonwealth should contribute its funding of public hospital inpatient services on a casemix basis, and secondly, should fund outpatient services directly.
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The renegotiation process for the next Australian Health Care Agreements 2003-2008 presents an opportunity for State and Territory Governments to suggest reforms to improve acute and sub acute health services and health outcomes. Four key issues to Victoria are discussed, emergency departments and primary care interface, workforce planning, aged care and the continuum of care.