Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members’ experiences of care in an urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service transforming to a Patient Centred Medical Home.

Anton Clifford-Motopi; Renee Brown; Antoinette White; Patrice Harald; Danielle Butler; Saira Mathew; Julie MacKenzie; Richard Mills; Martie Eaton

Just Accepted

This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members’ experiences of care in an urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service transforming to a Patient Centred Medical Home.

Anton Clifford-Motopi, Renee Brown, Antoinette White, Patrice Harald, Danielle Butler, Saira Mathew, Julie MacKenzie, Richard Mills, Martie Eaton

Abstract

Background Few studies have examined patient experiences of the Patient Centred Medical Home (PCMH). This qualitative study explores the experiences of patients of an urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) during its transition to a model of a PCMH. Methods Twenty-eight community members who were registered as patients of an urban ACCHS were purposively recruited to participate in yarning interviews. Yarns were conducted using a guide containing open-ended questions in the same domains as those used in patient satisfaction surveys at the participating clinic. Data from yarns was analysed by Aboriginal and non-Indigenous researchers using thematic analysis. The interpretations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers were privileged in the analysis. Results Key themes highlighted the importance of relationships, connectedness, and personal growth and empowerment to community members’ health and well-being which they described as a journey of healing and recovery. Delays in implementing a process to empanel patients in a care team meant that most community members were unaware a PCMH had been implemented. However, community members commonly reported a more welcoming environment, more contact with the same doctor, and more involvement of Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW) in their care. Conclusion Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members’ narratives of their experiences bear evidence of the acceptability of a PCMH model for delivery in ACCHSs to improve relational care between patients and health staff. A patient-directed empanelment process has been implemented to better connect patients to their care team in the clinic, and the role of the Aboriginal Health Worker (AHW) reshaped to strengthen connections between patients and their care team in and outside the clinic.

PY23163 Accepted 15 April 2024