Thinking outside the system: the integrated care experience in Queensland, Australia
Linda Mundy
A C and Kaye Hewson B
A School of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building, Corner of North Terrace and George Street, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
B Genetic Health Queensland, Critical Care and Clinical Support Services, Metro-North Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Department of Health, Level 14, Block 7, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: linda.mundy@adelaide.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 25(4) 303-309 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY18161
Submitted: 8 October 2018 Accepted: 19 May 2019 Published: 23 August 2019
Abstract
Health policy-makers are faced with a demand for health care that exceeds supply, driven in part by an ageing population and an increased prevalence of chronic disease. An integrated ‘people-centred’ model of care across primary, secondary and tertiary health care can strengthen the health system by streamlining services to improve the patient journey and outcomes. Integrated care offers an opportunity to reduce admissions and re-admissions to hospitals, reduce presentations to emergency departments and improve the capacity of outpatient clinics while delivering better outcomes to patients. Queensland’s $35 million Integrated Care Innovation Fund (ICIF) has provided seed funding to 24 projects covering a wide spectrum of chronic disease management and complex disease. Programs such as the ICIF offer an opportunity to provide a new approach to caring for vulnerable populations such as the frail and elderly; children with behavioural and developmental issues; children in out-of-home care; rural and remote populations; and people with mental health issues, whose care runs the risk of ‘falling through the cracks’ with conventional healthcare approaches.
Additional keywords: chronic disease, continuity of patient care, delivery of health care, health reform, primary health care.
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