Emerging models of integrated primary health care centres: their impact on access and integration of care and contributing factors

Increasing rates of chronic illness within an ageing population are requiring increasingly accessible and well-integrated primary health care (PHC) services. Although there is some evidence that integrated Primary Health Centres (IPHCs) can improve access and integration, we do not currently know which types of IPHCs are best able to do this in the Australian context, the most effective approaches for them to adopt, or what aspects of government policy best support it. This study will show how successful different types of IPHCs are at maximising access and integrating care, the strategies they use and how this can be supported through policy.

The study will identify effective strategies and gaps in ensuring access and integration within the IPHCs, and the factors which contribute to these, including aspects of national and state policy. It will describe the processes by which these strategies are developed, and the systems and routines which sustain them. This will be valuable to services wishing to improve access and integration, and also for governments wishing to ensure that their programs support high quality primary health care.

Partnerships

  • Dr Julie McDonald, Senior Research Fellow, Program Leader PHC Integration, the University of New South Wales
  • Dr Riki Lane, Research Officer, Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit, School of Primary Health Care, Monash University
  • Dr Bernadette Ward, Senior Research Fellow, CRE in Rural and Remote Primary Health Care, Monash University
  • A/ Prof Gawaine Powell Davies, Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, the University of New South Wales
  • Prof Jeff Fuller, Professor of Nursing (Primary Health Care), Flinders University
  • Dr Sarah Dennis, the University of Sydney
  • Dr Catherine Spooner, Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity, the University of New South Wales
  • Dr Christine Walker, Executive Officer, Chronic Illness Alliance
  • Prof Grant Russell, Head of School and Professor of General Practice Research (School of Primary Health Care, Monash University) and Director (Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit), Monash University