Outcome 13: Acute Care > Performance Information

Result: Indicator met.

Figures for 2007–08 will be available in June 2009, as required by the 2003–08 Australian Health Care Agreements.

Around 70% of patients at emergency departments were seen within clinically recommended times in 2006–07, compared with 69% in 2005–06.

Result: Indicator met.

Figures for 2007–08 will be available in June 2009, as required by the 2003–08 Australian Health Care Agreements.

In 2006–07, 84% of patients were admitted for elective surgery within the recommended time, compared with 81% in 2005–06.

Result: Indicator not met.

3,611* doctors participated in the Premium Support Scheme in 2007–08, an increase from 3,533* in 2006–07 and 3,573 in 2005–06.

It is worth noting that there has been little significant change in absolute participation numbers over the last three years.

*There is potential for small variations in participation numbers under the scheme as its reconciliation period extends 13 months after the end of the financial year. Also, doctors may move in and out of the Premium Support Scheme as their income and hours worked change.

Result: Indicator not met.

In 2007, there were 198 deceased organ donors in Australia, a rate of 9.4 donors per million population. This is a slight decrease on the 2006 figure of 202 donors, which equated to a rate of 10 donors per million population (dpmp).

Result: Indicator substantially met.

The 2005–06 cost weights were released in August 2007 and the Round 10 report was released in September 2007. Key findings include that:

the national average cost of a patient is $3,540, a 6.3% increase from $3,332 in Round 9 (2004–05);

the national average length of stay in public hospitals was 3.04 days, with average length of stay varying from 2.80 to 3.44 days between states and territories;

renal dialysis is still the most common procedure in Round 10 with 712,669 separations and $472 average cost, a slight decrease from $485 in Round 9; and

Ecmo cardiac surgery is the highest cost with an average cost per separation of $135,998.

Result: Indicator met.

Ministers were satisfied with the advice provided by the Department for Australian Government decision-making. This is on par with ministerial satisfaction in 2006–07.

Result: Indicator met.

The Department provided high quality and timely evidence-based research and analysis to inform the Government within the timeframes required.

The Department completed the Hospital Information and Performance Program Review and the National Hospital Cost Data Collection Review. The reviews' recommendations are informing improvements in information about the hospital services and costs associated with those services, and in particular improving information on trends in hospital utilisation.

The Department also continued to support the research, consultations and deliberations of the National Clinical Taskforce on Organ and Tissue Donation. The taskforce delivered its final report containing 51 recommendations for reform to the Government in February 2008 and the report was publicly released at the same time.

Result: Indicator met.

Actual expense varied 0.4% from budgeted expense.

Result: Indicator met.

The Department worked with consumers, industry and all State and Territory Governments towards improving the provision of acute care hospital services.

The Elective Surgery Waiting Times Working Group, consisting of representatives from all states and territories, the Commonwealth and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare was established to progress implementation, data development and reporting requirements for the Elective Surgery Waiting Times Reduction Plan.

The Department met quarterly with representatives of the private health insurance and private hospital industries to discuss data requirements. Major data changes also involved consultation with the sector in order to determine a way forward.

The Department also commissioned a social marketing research project, conducted in 2007–08 by the Ipsos Eureka Social Research Institute, which explored attitudes and behaviour relating to organ and tissue donation.