Ever
wondered how the healthcare system in Australia works? Or any better care
initiative you already know or have ever heard of? As per the knowledge
gathered, to improve the quality of health care and to make the system more
efficient, the Department of Health in Australia launched the Better Care
initiative a few years ago. To help
further investigate here is an article that contains an inside look at how the Department
of Health operates and what the Better Care initiative does in order to enhance
the experience of patients and their outcomes across the country.
A
general idea of the Department of Health in Australia
Basically,
the Department of Health in Australia is in charge of creating and executing
policies and initiatives that enhance the health and well-being of Australians.
To
enhance patient experiences and health outcomes, Australia's Better Care
Initiative was introduced in 2017. Since then, creative initiatives all
throughout the nation have received over $100 million in funding.
Under
the Better Care banner, the Department of Health has already implemented a
number of significant initiatives and programs. They are;
Medicare:
Australia's
universal public health insurance program which is known as Medicare is
regionally administered. Medicare is funded through general tax revenue and a
government fee. For those who acquire free public hospital care and extensive
coverage for prescription drugs, medical services, and a few other things,
enrollment for those citizens are automatic. Enrollment in Medicare is open to
New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and also for people from countries
who are with reciprocal benefits.
Health
Promotion and Health Protection:
The
Department of Health collaborates with state governments in Australia to
safeguard, promote, and enhance the health and well-being of the community.
State governments have their own Public Health Acts that seek to safeguard, promote,
and enhance the general public's health and well-being in that particular
state.
All levels of state are in charge of regulating health promotion and protection, which might change depending on the situation or strategy. For instance, in order to promote health, the Australian government may impose financial restrictions, such as taxes on products like cigarettes and alcohol, in an effort to discourage people from purchasing them.
Regional
health initiatives:
The
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) promotes regional health
initiatives that enhance development cooperation on health by supporting
national and international health programs.
In
general, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) encourages and
protects foreign interests to support their prosperity and security.
They
collaborate with other nations and international partners to address global challenges,
expand trade and investment opportunities, uphold international laws, maintain
the stability of the region, and assist Australians living abroad.
Initiatives
and programs:
Health,
aging and elderly care, and sports services and activities are all funded,
provided, monitored, and regulated by the Department of Health and Elderly
Care. Additionally, they even assess how well these initiatives and services
are meeting the needs of the Australian community.
They
consult and work with stakeholders such as health and aged care professionals
and industry groups, another commonwealth, state and territory government
departments and agencies, health professionals, the general public,
non-government organizations and governments, and health and aging
organizations in other countries.
All
stakeholders hold valuable experience in conveying services, offering insights
into what works best.
Primary
care initiatives and programs:
To
increase access to healthcare services and streamline the doctor training
process, the Department of Health has established a number of primary care
initiatives and projects. These programs and initiatives include Medicare, the
Better at Home initiative, New Initiatives to Help Deliver Better Care for
Older Australians, Primary Care Initiatives and Programs, Integrated Care Key
Initiatives, and the Better Access project.
Key
Stakeholders involved in these initiatives
Patients,
healthcare professionals, government, advocacy groups, community organizations,
and funding agencies are among the primary parties involved in initiatives and
programs that seek to enhance the standard of care and accessibility to
healthcare services in Australia.
Patients: The main parties involved in healthcare initiatives
and programs are patients. Patients' involvement and feedback are crucial to
the programs' success since they aim to increase the quality of care and
patients' access to healthcare services.
Patients
play an essential role in the better care initiative in Australia. Some ways of
how patients are involved are mentioned below;
Patient
Engagement:
Reduced
hospital admissions, better efficacy, efficiency, and quality of health
services, improved quality of life, and improved quality and accountability of
health services are all benefits of including people in the delivery or
redesign of healthcare. Engagement of patients can improve service provision
and governance while also influencing patient and provider education and policies.
Improvement
of Mental Health
The
Better Access initiative seeks to enhance community-wide mental health care and
management. Through Medicare rebates, it improves patients' access to mental
health services, such as counseling and psychological therapy.
Care
Coordination:
The
goal of care coordination is to deliver high-quality, high-value healthcare
while taking into account the requirements and preferences of patients. This
implies that the patient's preferences and wants are understood and shared with
the appropriate parties at the appropriate times and that this knowledge is
then used to direct the provision of safe, appropriate, and efficient care.
Patient-Centered
care:
Measures
of patient experience can highlight significant system issues such as service
delays, communication challenges, and insufficient patient education.
Healthcare
Professionals: Doctors, nurses,
and other healthcare personnel are among the primary participants in healthcare
initiatives and programs. They are frequently involved in the designing and implementation
of healthcare projects and play a crucial role in providing patients with
high-quality care.
Government: An important key stakeholder in healthcare
initiatives and programs is the Australian government. Many of these initiatives
and programs are funded and implemented by the government, and its laws and
regulations have a big impact on the healthcare system.
Advocacy
Groups: The involvement of advocacy groups in
healthcare efforts and programs is crucial. Examples include mental health
organizations, patient advocacy groups, and disability rights organizations.
They may help make sure that patient's needs are being addressed by offering
insightful feedback and suggestions on the planning and execution of these
activities.
Community
Organizations: Local healthcare
clinics and community health centers are examples of community organizations
that play a significant role in healthcare initiatives and programs. They may
help to guarantee that the needs of the neighborhood are being met by offering
insightful feedback and input on the planning and execution of these projects.
Funding
Agencies: Important players in healthcare
projects and programs include funding organizations like Medicare and private
health insurers. They can contribute to ensuring that people have access to
reasonably priced healthcare services by providing the financial resources
required to implement these initiatives and programs.
What are the specific
goals of the Better Care initiative?
The
specific goals of the Better Care initiative are as follows;
Better
at Home initiative: Increased healthcare delivery through home- and
community-based care as part of the Better at Home initiative, when suitable
and requested by the patient. Evaluations of home-based hospital services on a
local and international scale unequivocally demonstrate the advantages of this
form of treatment, including improved patient outcomes and much higher patient
and caregiver satisfaction.
Better
patient results, safer and higher-quality healthcare, and a more
patient-centered approach to treatment.
The
Australian Safety and Quality Goals for Health Care outline significant safety
and quality issues for Australia that might be improved over the course of the
following five years with a coordinated national strategy. They are pertinent
to every aspect of the healthcare system and are intended to draw attention to
a select group of significant safety and quality issues that: have a direct
bearing on people's health and well-being as well as the performance of the
healthcare system as a whole; can be improved through the application of
evidence-based interventions and strategies; and are amenable to national
action and collaboration.
1ST
GOAL - SAFETY OF CARE:
That
patients receive medical attention without experiencing preventable harm. The initial
priorities are Drug security, Hospital-acquired infection detecting clinical
worsening, and taking appropriate action.
They
prioritize Medication Safety: Reduce medication-related damage to people
by implementing safe and efficient medication management.
The
outcomes - Those who are older and reside in the community report fewer adverse
drug occurrences.
Older
patients leave the hospital with fewer adverse drug reactions than younger
patients.
Venous
thromboembolisms connected to hospitalization are less common in adults.
Children
experience fewer adverse drug events that are dose-related.
Community
members who use warfarin report fewer adverse drug reactions.
They
Prioritize Healthcare Associated Infection: Reduce the harm caused by
healthcare-associated infections by practicing efficient infection control and
antimicrobial stewardship.
The
outcomes - Utilizing efficient, scientifically supported hand hygiene
techniques are healthcare professionals, clients, and patients.
People
receive proper antibiotic prescriptions, and resistant pathogen infections are
less common.
Fewer
persons experience urinary tract infections linked to catheters, surgical site
infections, and central line-associated bloodstream infections
They
Prioritize Recognizing and responding to clinical deterioration: Reduce
harm to people caused by failing to detect and react to clinical deterioration
by putting in place efficient detection and reaction mechanisms.
The
outcomes - Fewer persons suffer injury as a result of inadequate identification
of and response to worsening in their physical condition thanks to recognition
and response systems in acute healthcare settings.
2ND
GOAL - ADEQUALITY OF CARE:
That
people receive adequate, evidence-based care. Priorities to start with are Acute
coronary syndrome, Transient ischemic attack, and stroke.
Acute
coronary syndrome: People with acute
coronary syndrome should receive appropriate, evidence-based care.
The
outcomes - All patients with acute coronary syndrome are treated in accordance
with nationally recognized clinical guidelines, taking into account the
following stages of their involvement with the medical system:
Pre-hospital,
hospital, and secondary preventative services
Transient
ischemic attack and stroke: Give
those who have had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack proper,
evidence-based care.
The
outcomes - All patients with transient ischemic attacks or strokes receive
treatment in accordance with national clinical standards, which also improves
their quality of life. This takes into account the subsequent stages of their
involvement with the healthcare system:
Pre-hospital,
hospital, and community care are all forms of care.
3RD
GOAL – PARTNERING
WITH CONSUMERS:
At
all levels of healthcare provision, planning, and evaluation, there should be
effective partnerships between consumers and healthcare providers and
organizations.
The
outcomes - The ability of consumers to manage their own illness is given, as
long as it is clinically suitable and desired
When
discussing care and treatment, patients and healthcare professionals can
understand one another.
Healthcare
organizations are knowledgeable about health issues.
Customers
play a significant role in the governance of healthcare organizations.
Role
of Technology in achieving the goals of the Better Care Initiative
The
Better Care Initiative in Australia's pursuit of its objectives relies heavily
on technology. In Australia, technology is being used in the following ways to
enhance healthcare:
The
Health Foundation has started a program called Tech for Better Care that looks
into the possibility of utilizing technology to facilitate care at home and in
the community.
Technologies
for patient engagement can enhance patient outcomes and value-based care by
focusing on registry data types and patient compliance measures, such as the
collection of clinical and patient-generated data.
Data-driven quality care efforts: By
using evidence-based medicine, data-driven quality care initiatives can help
patients achieve better results.
In
general, the Better Care Initiative represents a crucial commitment to
advancing the healthcare system in Australia. However, its success will depend
on continued collaboration between the government, healthcare providers, and
the community to ensure that the goals of improved care, increased efficiency,
and better patient experiences are realized. By addressing the evolving
healthcare needs of the population, Australia can look forward to a healthier
and more resilient healthcare system in the years to come.
If you wish to know more information
or attain jobs in the healthcare field in and around Australia, reach out and
visit our Medfuture website.
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