Australian health review : a publication of the Australian Hospital Association
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Distnct hospitals are important symbolic structures in rural and remote communities; however, little has been published on the role, function or models of care of district hospitals in rural and remote Australia. The aim of the present study was to identify models of care that incorporate district hospitals and have relevance to the Australian rural and remote context. ⋯ District hospitals play an important role in the delivery of care, particularly at key times in a person's life (birth, death, episodes of illness). They enable people to remain in or near their own community with support from a range of services. They also play an important role in the essential fabric of the community and the vertical integration of the health services.
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A drive to promote advance care planning at a population level has led to a proliferation of online advance care directive (ACD) templates but little information to guide consumer choice. The current study aimed to appraise the quality of online ACD templates promoted for use in Australia. ⋯ More research is needed to understand how online resources can optimally elicit and record consumers' individual preferences for future care. Future iterations of the framework should address online availability and provide a simple rating system to inform choice and drive quality improvement.
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A drive to promote advance care planning at a population level has led to a proliferation of online advance care directive (ACD) templates but little information to guide consumer choice. The current study aimed to appraise the quality of online ACD templates promoted for use in Australia. ⋯ More research is needed to understand how online resources can optimally elicit and record consumers' individual preferences for future care. Future iterations of the framework should address online availability and provide a simple rating system to inform choice and drive quality improvement.