Building a 21st Century Primary Health Care System

Building a 21st Century Primary Health Care System: A Draft of Australia’s National Primary Health Care Strategy (the Draft Strategy) sets out a road map for the future.

Factsheet

The Draft Strategy has 5 key building blocks as essential system wide underpinnings:
The Draft Strategy also identifies four priority areas where changes will most directly impact primary health care consumers and health professionals:
In summary, the Draft Strategy, proposes:
More information

Building a 21^st Century Primary Health Care System: A Draft of Australia’s National Primary Health Care Strategy (the Draft Strategy) sets out a road map for the future – to provide Australians with a primary health care system which is among the best in the world and which is equipped to meet future challenges. Primary health care is the first point of connection with the health system and needs to be able to cope with the full range of challenges that emerge including prevention, adequate care for the sick and managing complex chronic conditions in partnership with other health sectors.

The Draft Strategy recognises that our existing system has many strengths. It proposes building on these strengths to harness the benefits of technology, including eHealth and providing health care professionals with the infrastructure, equipment, skills and organisational arrangements they need to deliver 21st century primary health care to all Australians. It recognises that there is an important role for new regional primary health care organisations in ensuring that services respond to the needs and priorities of local communities and that these communities are actively involved in planning for their region.

The Draft Strategy has been developed alongside the work of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission and the National Preventative Health Taskforce.

The Draft Strategy has 5 key building blocks as essential system wide underpinnings:

• Building Block 1 – Regional integration:

  Establishment of strong regional organisations to drive service integration, education and training, and address local health needs through flexible service delivery and financing arrangements (including fund-holding models where appropriate).

• Building Block 2 – Information and Technology (including eHealth):

  Implementation of eHealth strategies, particularly Individual Electronic Health Records, and support of best use of technology to integrate care, improve patient outcomes, and deliver capacity, quality and cost effectiveness.

• Building Block 3 – Skilled Workforce:

  A flexible, well trained workforce with clear roles and responsibilities built around core competencies, works together to deliver best care to patients cost-effectively and continues to build their skills through effective training and team work

• Building Block 4 – Infrastructure:

  Physical infrastructure supports different models of care to improve access, support integration and enable teams to train and work together effectively.

• Building Block 5 – Financing and System Performance:

  Financing arrangements which focus on cost-effective interventions and use of information to drive performance improvement in both individual practice and system outcomes. Progressive realignment of funding arrangements to reduce reliance on fee for service and support alternative mechanisms to improve care underpins the Draft Strategy.

The Draft Strategy also identifies four priority areas where changes will most directly impact primary health care consumers and health professionals:

1. Key Priority Area 1 – Improving Access and Reducing Inequity:

   Currently access to quality primary health care services is not equal across the community. Reform is needed to ensure services are matched to people’s needs, and delivered through mainstream and targeted programs across an integrated service system that connects to specialist, acute and other sectors.

2. Key Priority Area 2 – Better Management of Chronic Conditions:

   With the growing burden of chronic disease in Australia, improved continuity and coordination of care is needed – through mechanisms such as chronic disease management programs linked to voluntary enrolment and local integration.

3. Key Priority Area 3 – Increasing the Focus on Prevention:

   As well as focusing on better managing chronic disease, the primary health care system also needs to focus more on preventing chronic disease – through more systematic approaches to preventive care, such as through more regular health checks for at risk groups, to identify potential problems early.

4. Key Priority Area 4 – Improving Quality, Safety, Performance and Accountability:

   The primary health care system in Australia needs a framework for quality and safety in primary health care with built-in mechanisms for measurement and feedback to drive quality improvement leading to better services.

In summary, the Draft Strategy, proposes:

• Universal access to MBS and PBS for episodic medical care;
• Targeted programs and better use of technology which improve outcomes for individuals;
• Integrated local solutions, focusing on active management of patients with chronic disease and ‘hard to reach populations;
• Well integrated, coordinated and available prevention activity, with regular risk assessment, support and follow-up;
• The ability for patients to access quality data to inform their choice of provider, practice or facility;
• Flexibility to improve outcomes and cost effectiveness.

More information

A copy of the Draft Strategy and supporting Report can be found at:

• Building a 21st Century Primary Health Care System: A Draft of Australia’s Primary Health Care Strategy
• Primary Health Care Reform in Australia: Report to Support Australia’s First National Primary Health Care Strategy

In addition, the Discussion Paper: Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy, copies of stakeholder submissions on the Discussion Paper and details of the External Reference Group (ERG) can be found at: http://www.health.gov.au/primaryhealthstrategy.
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