A fresh examination of potentially preventable hospitalisation rates gives new insights and strategic direction
Australia lies at a critical juncture for health reform. In August 2019, the Minister for Health, the Honourable Greg Hunt MP, released Australia's Long Term National Health Plan,1 a 24‐page document anticipating the imminent initiation of a 10‐year Primary Health Care Plan. In October 2019, the Minister announced experts to provide independent advice for this purpose.2 With their counsel, this 10‐year Primary Health Care Plan will set a path to guide future primary health care reform. This undertaking behoves laser‐like focus on population‐based system‐level indicators.
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- 1. Australian Government, Department of Health. Australia's Long Term National Health Plan to build the world's best health system, Aug 2019. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/australia-s-long-term-national-health-plan_0.pdf (viewed Feb 2020).
- 2. Ministers Department of Health. Primary Health Reform Steering Group established [media release]. 18 Oct 2019. https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/primary-health-reform-steering-group-established (viewed Feb 2020).
- 3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Healthcare Agreement: PI 18–Selected potentially preventable hospitalisations 2018: Identifying and definitional attributes. https://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/658499 (viewed Apr 2020).
- 4. Australian Government, Productivity Commission. Report on government services 2020: Part E: health, Jan 2020 [website]. https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2020/health (viewed Feb 2020).
- 5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Potentially preventable hospitalisations in Australia by age groups and small geographic areas, 2017–2018 [Cat. No. HPF 36]. Canberra: AIHW, 2019. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/primary-health-care/potentially-preventable-hospitalisations/contents/overview (viewed Feb 2020).
- 6. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) [website]. Canberra: ABS, 2016. https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/home/Australian+Statistical+Geography+Standard+(ASGS) (viewed Apr 2020).
- 7. Ministers Department of Health. COVID‐19: whole of population telehealth for patients, general practice, primary care and other medical specialists [media release]. 29 Mar 2020. https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/covid-19-whole-of-population-telehealth-for-patients-general-practice-primary-care-and-other-medical-services (viewed Apr 2020).
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