Influencing population health performance: feedback from managers, population health staff and clinicians on the NSW Population Health Standards for Area Health Services

Jeannine L. M. Liddle; Thérèse C. Jones; Margaret S. Lesjak; Andrew J. Milat; David M. Lyle; Emma L. Webster

doi:10.1071/NB07001

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Influencing population health performance: feedback from managers, population health staff and clinicians on the NSW Population Health Standards for Area Health Services

Jeannine L. M. Liddle ^A ^B ^F , Thérèse C. Jones ^A ^B , Margaret S. Lesjak ^A ^C , Andrew J. Milat ^A ^D , David M. Lyle ^A ^E and Emma L. Webster ^A ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Population Health Standards Evaluation Group, Greater Western Area Health Service

^B Population Health, Planning and Performance, Greater Western Area Health Service

^C Broken Hill Centre for Remote Health Research Joint Initiative of the University of Sydney and Greater Western Area Health Service

^D Centre for Health Advancement, NSW Department of Health

^E Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health, University of Sydney

^F Corresponding author. Email: jeannine.liddle@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 19(8) 117-120 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07001
Published: 20 October 2008

Abstract

The NSW Population Health Standards for Area Health Services have recently been introduced in NSW to assist area health services assess and improve performance in population health. Greater Western Area Health Service was the pilot site for trialling the Standards as a self-assessment tool. Following self-assessment, managers, population health staff and clinicians were asked for feedback. Staff were either interviewed or participated in a group discussion. Consulting with staff who would be required to use the Standards in the long term was seen as important for facilitating implementation across the area health service. The Standards were seen as credible and potentially beneficial, especially in raising the profile of population health work and encouraging population-based and integrated approaches.

Acknowledgment

Our thanks go to the GWAHS staff who participated in the pilot self-assessment and evaluation. The authors also wish to acknowledge Ross O’Donoughue and the members of the original working group who developed the Population Health Standards for Area Health Services: Peter Sainsbury, Jeanette Ward, Mark Ferson and Sarah Thackway.

References

[1] Skok A, Swerissen H, Macmillan J. Standards and quality improvement processes in health and community services: a review of the literature. Melbourne: Quality Improvement Council; June 2000. Available from: http://www.qic.org.au/Docs/Lit_review.pdf (Cited 16 November 2006.)

[2] Standards Australia. What is a standard? Sydney: Standards Australia; 2006. Available from: http://www.standards.org.au/ (Cited 16 November 2006.)

[3] Centre for International Economics. Standards and the economy. Canberra and Sydney: Centre for International Economics Canberra and Sydney; 2006, p.6. Available from: http://www.thecie.com.au/content/publications/Economic_impact_of_standards.pdf (Cited 16 November 2006.)

[4] Liddle J, Lyle D, Lesjak M, Milat A, Webster E, Jones T. Influencing Population Health Performance: introduction of Standards for Area Health Services in New South Wales. N S W Public Health Bull 2007; 18(1–2): 17–21.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[5] Liddle J, Jones T, Webster E, Milat A, Lyle D, Lesjak M. Population Health Standards for Area Health Services: Evaluation Report. Dubbo: Greater Western Area Health Service; 2006.

[6] Roper WL, Mays GP. Performance measurement in public health: conceptual and methodological issues in building the science base. J Public Health Manag Pract 2000; 6(5): 66–77.
| PubMed | CAS |