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Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association

Australian Health Review

Australian Health Review

Australian Health Review explores health policy and management including healthcare delivery systems, clinical programs and health financing. Read more about the journalMore

Editor-in-Chief: Sonĵ Hall

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Current Issue

Australian Health Review

Volume 48 Number 1 2024

What is known about the topic? Scope of practice regulation in medicine is crucial for ensuring patient safety, standardisation and professional accountability. What does this paper add? This paper highlights the negative consequences of restrictive scope of practice regulation on medical negligence litigation, quality of care, flexibility of healthcare delivery, clinical innovation and professional autonomy. What are the implications for practitioners? A proactive, national, artificial intelligence-powered, real-time patient outcome monitoring system is proposed, which addresses some of the highlighted challenges and the associated blame culture that it helps to perpetuate.

AH23258Mitigating the consequences of electronic health record data breaches for patients and healthcare workers

Jeffrey C. L. Looi 0000-0003-3351-6911, Stephen Allison, Tarun Bastiampillai, Paul A. Maguire, Steve Kisely 0000-0003-4021-2924 and Richard C. H. Looi
pp. 4-7

What is known about this topic? Electronic health records, in common with business and healthcare data systems, are vulnerable to data breaches and have been recently targeted in Australia and internationally. What does this paper add? Electronic health records present particular cybersecurity data breach risks for patients and healthcare workers through the release of confidential information, identity theft, and associated psychological distress. What are the implications for practitioners? Electronic health record platforms need legislative regulation and personalised provision of support to patients and healthcare workers to mitigate the consequences of inevitable data breaches.

What is known about the topic? Data linkage is a very powerful research tool in epidemiology, however, establishing this can be a lengthy and intensive process. What does this paper add? We report on our own experiences in establishing a multi-jurisdictional data linkage project, and the numerous inconsistencies encountered, prior to being able to conduct linkage. What are the implications for practitioners? We propose several strategies which could be implemented to facilitate a more streamlined, centralised approach to data linkage. Further streamlining, establishing accountability, and greater collaboration between jurisdictions is needed to ensure data linkage is both accessible and feasible to researchers.

What is known about the topic? Numerous studies have investigated physician and nursing perspectives of health service electronic medical record (EMR) implementation, however, information on allied health professionals (AHPs) perspectives is limited. What does this paper add? This paper utilises a validated tool to investigate AHPs’ attitudes, perceptions and experience of an EMR, pre- and post-implementation and identifies changes after system utilisation. This is new information is specific to AHPs. What are the implications for practitioners? Understanding both the positive influences and barriers to EMR use and adoption by AHPs provides insights into how elements of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology framework can be leveraged to improve future system implementations by enhancing system suitability for AHPs and thus optimising adoption through change management and training strategies.

AH23119What would it take to improve the uptake and utilisation of mHealth applications among older Australians? A qualitative study

Tanja Schroeder 0000-0002-1733-6542, Karla Seaman 0000-0003-4611-9616, Amy Nguyen 0000-0003-4603-564X, Joyce Siette 0000-0001-9568-5847, Heiko Gewald 0000-0003-2107-2217 and Andrew Georgiou 0000-0002-7619-3668
pp. 28-33

What is known about the topic? mHealth apps have the enormous potential to promote patient-centred care, provide a tool for patient self-management and effectively empower and improve users' health and health behaviour. What does this paper add? This paper complements existing adoption research models by identifying further influencing factors that specifically address the characteristics of mHealth apps and the needs of older adults. What are the implications for practitioners? This research shows that the requirements of consumers, regulators and health professionals need to be addressed to improve the relevance of mHealth and enable greater support for mHealth apps in the health system by understanding the perceived influencing factors for mHealth adoption.

What is known about this topic? The Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Advisory Committee has made recommendations to cease reimbursement of telehealth for initial consultations by non-general practitioner medical specialists. What does this paper add? The recommendations are contrary to the good medical practice guidelines on telehealth promulgated by the Medical Board of Australia. What are the implications for practitioners? The cessation of reimbursement will significantly impact private patient initial appointments and especially affect rural and remote patients.

What is known about the topic? Management of septic hip arthritis is optimised by expedient diagnosis. What does this paper add? Point-of-care ultrasound reliably identifies fluid in the hip joint and shortens the length of time to diagnosis when compared with ultrasound examinations performed in medical imaging departments. What are the implications for practitioners? The use point-of-care ultrasound for the diagnosis of septic hip arthritis may improve diagnostic efficiency and offer significant cost savings.

AH23176Review of Australia’s funding commitments for suicide prevention from 2021–22 to 2026–27

Di Hu 0009-0008-3369-1545, Charlotte Comben 0000-0002-9100-2970, Sandra Diminic 0000-0001-8742-8816 and Claudia Pagliaro 0000-0001-7781-2101
pp. 45-51

What is known about the topic? Suicide rates in Australia have increased over the past 10 years, with some sub-populations known to experience a greater risk of suicide. What does this paper add? A policy review was undertaken to examine the distribution of this suicide prevention funding across jurisdictions and years, the types of interventions funded, and whether funding is targeted toward groups with a recognised higher risk of suicide. What are the implications for practitioners? The findings of this paper may be used by practitioners to better understand the service funding priorities for suicide prevention in Australia.

What is known about the topic? The economic effects of the harms of e-cigarette use are unknown. What does this paper add? Based on the transition from e-cigarette use to cigarette smoking (among never smokers), high and avoidable healthcare costs are predicted with e-cigarette-initiated smoking, primarily for lung diseases, and are driven by small increments in e-cigarette uptake. What are the implications for practitioners? Strong support for regulating the use of e-cigarettes to limit use, other than for smoking cessation, is of paramount importance to reduce the economic burden on health care.

What is known about the topic? Increased length of stay has been described for hospital inpatients referred to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). What does the paper add? NDIS-referred rehabilitation inpatients had increased length of stay and lower Functional Independence Measure efficiency with reference to benchmarked expected length of stay predictions. NDIS-referred rehabilitation inpatients had increased length of stay compared with non-NDIS-referred patients. What are the implications for practitioners? Rehabilitation units managing inpatients referred to the NDIS incur a significant opportunity cost that is unaccounted for in current benchmarking and funding arrangements.

AH23206Reforming allied health service provision in residential aged care to improve the rehabilitation reach: a feasibility study

Natasha Brusco 0000-0002-8825-5109, Christina Ekegren 0000-0002-7656-6209, Helen Rawson 0000-0001-5363-729X, Nicholas F. Taylor 0000-0001-9474-2504, Julia Morphet 0000-0001-7056-6526, Keith Hill 0000-0002-2191-0308, Jennifer Anderson, Kelly Stephen 0000-0002-5863-5274, Amelia Crabtree 0000-0002-2104-8308, Pazit Levinger 0000-0001-6660-9183, Sara L. Whittaker 0000-0001-7002-185X, Sze-Ee Soh 0000-0002-1400-7700, Fiona Dulfer and Katherine Lawler 0000-0002-1484-1113
pp. 66-81

What is known about the topic? At present, residents in aged care are largely inactive and only 22% of facilities in Australia provide physiotherapy-based rehabilitation or short-term restorative care. What does this paper add? My Therapy is an allied health guided, co-designed rehabilitation self-management program for residents in aged care and has the potential to improve the rehabilitation reach of allied health services in this setting. What are the implications for practitioners? Through My Therapy, allied health teams in residential aged care can better align with the Royal Commission’s Aged Care Quality and Safety recommendation of providing resident rehabilitation.

AH23241Exploring strengths and weaknesses in health services research culture and capacity

Nicole Stormon 0000-0003-0758-1605, Peter Lawrenson 0000-0002-6479-6840, Ann Rahmann 0000-0002-5458-2849, Sally Eames 0000-0001-9721-1266 and Nicole Gavin 0000-0002-0828-9852
pp. 82-90

What is known about the topic? Health services must engage with research to ensure evidence-based practice, but they often encounter barriers to facilitating research within this setting. What does the paper add? The research reveals that health service teams were perceived as barriers for research culture and were significantly lower than individual and organisational perceptions of research culture and capacity. This highlights the importance of investigating challenges faced by team leaders in facilitating research and providing support or training. What are the implications for practitioners? Health service organisations should focus on supporting and training team leaders to enhance research culture and capacity and enable clinicians to engage in research.

AH23157Clinical innovation and scope of practice regulation: a case study of the Charlie Teo decision

Jill Walsh 0000-0001-7915-4835, Sharon Downie, Eric Windholz, Andrea Kirk-Brown and Terry P. Haines
pp. 91-94

What is known about the topic? Health profession regulatory mechanisms have traditionally been slow to respond to evolution and change in professional scopes of practice. What does this paper add? This paper explores how individual practitioners may find themselves in a ‘grey zone’ between the new clinical frontier and the normative practice of their professional peer group. What are the implications for practitioners? We propose a theoretical approach providing a clear framework through which to guide the adoption of clinical innovations and profession-level scope of practice change, progression and evolution.

AH23160The role of law in end-of-life decision-making in emergency departments and intensive care units: a retrospective review of current practice in a Queensland health service

Jayne Hewitt 0000-0002-6888-2666, Nemat Alsaba 0000-0003-3251-3487, Katya May, Colleen Cartwright 0000-0002-2199-0424, Lindy Willmott 0000-0002-9750-287X, Ben P. White 0000-0003-3365-939X and Andrea P. Marshall 0000-0001-7692-403X
pp. 95-102

What is known about the topic? Working within the law is a central feature of quality care. There have been concerted efforts to support healthcare professionals’ knowledge of the law that applies to end-of-life decision-making. However, knowing the law is not the same as applying the law. What does this paper add? This paper describes how end-of-life decisions are made and documented in emergency departments and intensive care units in one Queensland health service. We found that healthcare professionals rely on clinical judgement about what is in the best interest of the patient when making end-of-life decisions, and compliance with the law may be coincidental. What are the implications for practitioners? In addition to seeking to achieve consensus on end-of-life decision-making, healthcare professionals need to ensure that consent for an end-of-life decision is provided by the legal decision-maker.

AH22277Futile treatment – when is enough, enough?

Roy G. Beran 0000-0002-5884-0606 and J. A. Devereux
pp. 103-107

What is known about the topic? The concept of medical futility and its impact are disputed issues. What does this paper add? The paper places futility in its medico legal context, it offers definitions, costs of futile medical treatment and highlights recent legal developments which re-define futility. What are the implications for practitioners? Practitioners need to be aware of the ongoing impact of definitional disputes relating to futility, the cost of futile treatment and that the nature of futility is changing.

Online Early

The peer-reviewed and edited version of record published online before inclusion in an issue

Published online 18 March 2024

AH24002Driving value-based healthcare through a new vision for Queensland’s health system

Madeleine Wellington, Elizabeth Whiting 0000-0002-8998-7539, Damien Searle, Megan Kreis 0000-0001-9127-4389 and Emily Cross
 

What is known about the topic? Vision statements for organisations including health are common. However, there is little information available in the literature regarding approaches to developing a vision for a health system. What does this paper add? An overview of an approach to developing a new health system vision through comprehensive consultation that engages stakeholders broadly to develop an informed vision that has support from all levels of the health system. What are the implications for practitioners? The method used to develop this vision could be replicated across any large-scale organisation. Although time consuming, the outcome is a vision that is widely supported and sets the organisation up for success for implementation.

This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-based Healthcare.

Published online 14 March 2024

AH24020Marked variations in medical provider and out-of-pocket costs for radical prostatectomy procedures in Australia

Ramya Walsan 0000-0002-4359-6794, Rebecca J. Mitchell, Jeffrey Braithwaite, Johanna Westbrook, Peter Hibbert, Virginia Mumford and Reema Harrison 0000-0002-8609-9827
 

What is known about the topic? Unwarranted clinical variations in radical prostatectomy procedures are well documented in the literature; however, variations in cost are less widely reported. What does this paper add? This paper aims to highlight the cost variations in radical prostatectomy procedures in Australia, discussing their plausible causes, implications and proposing potential policy opportunities. What are the implications for practitioners? Excessive fees imposed by medical providers may contribute to inequalities in healthcare access. Enhancing transparency of individual medical provider costs and implementing fee regulations may be useful in controlling unwarranted variations in procedure costs.

This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-based Healthcare

Published online 12 March 2024

AH23183Adapting to change: exploring perceptions and demands of the coronavirus (COVID-19) workforce changes – an Australian multi-institutional radiation oncology survey

Honor Magon, Justin Smith 0000-0002-8870-3282, Jacqueline Besson, Eric Hau, Suzanne Taylor, Jeremy Ruben, Diana Jones, Kira Mabb, Jamie Feldman, Leily Gholam Rezaei and Yoo Young Lee 0000-0003-4325-349X
 

What is known about the topic? During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic there were significant adaptations required to the delivery of clinical care. What does this paper add? There is a strong preference for ongoing work from home arrangements, especially for administrative and non-clinical work. Most radiation oncologists feel more confident using telehealth and favour its ongoing use post-pandemic. Burnout and stress remain prevalent within the workforce. What are the implications for practitioners? There is a high demand among the radiation oncology workforce for adoption of technological advances to improve work satisfaction including remote access to enable flexible work arrangements.

Published online 12 March 2024

AH24003Measuring clinician experience in value-based healthcare initiatives: a 10-item core clinician experience measure (CEM-10)

Reema Harrison 0000-0002-8609-9827, Louise A Ellis, Maryam Sina, Ramya Walsan 0000-0002-4359-6794, Rebecca Mitchell, Ramesh Walpola, Glen Maberly, Catherine Chan and Liz Hay
 

What is known about the topic? Clinician experience of providing care is an outcome of interest for health systems and services internationally who are implementing value-based care initiatives. Review evidence indicates that measurement of clinician’s experience of providing care should address experiences of being able to deliver quality care, collaborate with colleagues, experience psychological safety and engagement in decision-making in the workplace. What does this paper add? The paper reports the development of the short form clinician experience measure (CEM-10) and its initial validation in four value-based healthcare initiatives of NSW Health. What are the practical implications for practitioners? The CEM-10 can be used as a core set of items embedded within evaluations of value-based care initiatives to benchmark and examine experiences across clinician cohorts.

This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-based Healthcare

Published online 12 March 2024

AH23272Development and implementation of the Specialist Palliative Care in Aged Care (SPACE) Project across Queensland

Rebecca Smith, Gregory Merlo, Andrew M Broadbent, Caitlin Lock, Sharon Mickan and Nicola Morgan
 

What is known about the topic? There is limited palliative care support for the 36% of Australians who die in residential aged care. What does this paper add? This paper describes the development of the Specialist Palliative Care in Aged Care (SPACE) Project, using locally tailored models of care to improve palliative and end-of-life care in aged care facilities across Queensland. What are the implications for practitioners? Critical elements for improving residents’ palliative and end-of-life care included creation of an expert working group to define the innovation state-wide, a central project team that supported implementation, a community of practice, and local facilitation.

Published online 07 March 2024

AH23262Clinical research imperatives: principles and priorities from the perspective of Allied Health executives and managers

Susan Hillier 0000-0002-6071-6137, Duncan Lodge, Jo Nolan, Rosalie Yandell, Anna Chur-Hansen, Stacey George and Elizabeth Lynch
 

What is known about the topic? Allied Health are well equipped to engage in research but have limited capacity. What does this paper add? We have identified key priorities and principles to inform Allied Health research activity. What are the implications for practitioners? Practitioners, funders and other stakeholders can develop these identified principles and priorities to direct research time and resources for the most impact on health outcomes.

Published online 07 March 2024

AH24028An opportunity to transform Australia’s neo-colonial health system

Alicia E. Veasey 0000-0001-5062-651X
 

What is known about the topic? To succeed in efforts to implement equitable, sustained value-based healthcare (VBHC), the foundations and ongoing impacts of settler-colonialism and neoliberalism on which the Australian healthcare system is built must be acknowledged and addressed. What does this paper add? The ‘modern’ VBHC movement provides an opportunity to not only reform health care towards a more equitable, community-centred system, but to also acknowledge, honour and learn from global Indigenous knowledge, systems, and ways of valuing knowing, being and doing. What are the implications for practitioners? This article is an invitation to sit, listen and learn.

This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-based Healthcare.

Published online 07 March 2024

AH23179Personal and organisational attributes that support transformational leadership in acute healthcare: scoping review

Julie Considine 0000-0003-3801-2456, Jenny Dempster 0009-0007-5237-4863, Nga Man Wendy Wong, Noelleen Kiprillis 0000-0002-0052-2701 and Leanne Boyd 0000-0001-9957-6357
 

What is known about the topic? Transformational leadership has clear benefits for patients, staff and organisations. What does this paper add? The personal and organisational attributes supporting transformation leadership are not well understood. What are the implications for practitioners? Transformational leadership was unrelated to gender or years of experience but was strongly associated with manager educational preparation and emotional intelligence.

Published online 04 March 2024

AH23279The development and implementation of the Northern Health lung cancer digital care pathway: a case study in service change

Rachel L. Duckham 0000-0001-7882-2950, Tracey Webster and Katharine See
 

What is known about the topic? While much has been written about the benefits of digital health, there are few practical examples of how a digital initiative, developed and implemented with clinicians and consumers, can positively change a healthcare service. What does this paper add? This paper discusses the importance of developing new digital healthcare services with the end user through co-design. A fully automated lung cancer digital care pathway and the lessons learned in implementation of the pathway are presented. This initiative was implemented within a public hospital to provide a service that has a vision of value-based health care and a person centric approach to care. What are the implications for practitioners? This study illustrates how the implementation of a digital care pathway for the monitoring and treatment of lung cancer can provide an approach that moves from reactive to proactive care. The implementation of the digital care pathway has positively changed the lung cancer service in a rapidly growing area.

This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-based Healthcare.

Published online 20 February 2024

AH23225Consumer perspectives of allied health involvement in a public hospital setting: cross-sectional survey and electronic health record review

Laura Jolliffe 0000-0002-1369-9442, Cylie M. Williams 0000-0002-0223-9141, Natalie Bozyk, Taya A. Collyer 0000-0001-8612-1724, Kirsten Caspers and David A. Snowdon 0000-0003-2041-3120
 

What is known about the topic? Research on consumer acceptance of out-of-hours or weekend allied health services is lacking, with an assumption of consumer willingness and demand for these service models. What does this paper add? Hospital inpatients are generally indifferent to the day of allied health services, preferring weekday or weekend day equally, typically between 8 am and 4 pm, while outpatients favour weekday mornings. Although consumers reported that their needs were met by allied health services, there was a lack of awareness about the specific services they received. What are the implications for practitioners? Results highlight the importance of not only aligning service delivery with consumer preferences for timing, but also enhancing awareness and understanding of the available allied health services for consumers.

What is known about the topic? There is a need to undertake more proactive and in-depth analyses of the general practice accreditation process and outcomes to improve the quality and safety within this healthcare sector. What does this paper add? Attempt of the self-assessment does not predict indicator conformity at the site visit overall, and appropriate levels of consistency of indicator assessment between surveyors at the site visit were identified. What are the implications for practitioners? We present empirical evidence as to the consistency of assessment with general practice accreditation to inform future standards and (re)accreditation assessments.

Published online 12 February 2024

AH23231The impact of management option on out-of-pocket costs and perceived financial burden among men with localised prostate cancer in Australia within 6 months of diagnosis

Daniel Lindsay, Penelope Schofield, Doreen Nabukalu, Matthew J. Roberts, John Yaxley, Stephen Quinn, Natalie Richards, Mark Frydenberg, Robert Gardiner, Nathan Lawrentschuk, Ilona Juraskova, Declan G. Murphy and Louisa G. Gordon 0000-0002-3159-4249
 

What is known about the topic? International evidence suggests that men with low-risk prostate cancer managed with active surveillance initially incur lower out-of-pocket costs than those managed with active treatment. What does this paper add? Australian men with low-risk prostate cancer report low out-of-pocket costs and financial burden in the first 6 months post-diagnosis. Compared with those managed with active surveillance, men having active treatment had 6–7 times greater out-of-pocket expenses. What are the implications for practitioners? Being managed by active surveillance as the primary management option for low-risk prostate cancer reduces the financial burdens associated with a cancer diagnosis.

What is known about the topic? Since the introduction of Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) in mid-2000, the participation rate for private health insurance that includes hospital cover (PHI-HC) has remained relatively stable, but the PHI-HC population has aged faster than the general population. What does this paper add? This paper makes a novel distinction between ‘active’ and ‘passive’ age-based adverse selection to explain LHC’s role in the excess ageing of the PHI-HC risk pool. What are the implications for practitioners? Governments need to be vigilant for the emergence of distortions in the age distribution of the PHI-HC risk pool and respond with targeted interventions to normalise the age distribution, or risk problematic passive age-based adverse selection.

Published online 06 February 2024

AH24016What are the cost and resource implications of voluntary assisted dying and euthanasia?

Peter Hudson 0000-0001-5891-8197, David Marco 0000-0001-8634-3036, Richard De Abreu Lourenco 0000-0002-5978-8774 and Jennifer Philip 0000-0002-3312-0645
 

What is known about the topic? Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) legislation has now been passed in all Australian states. Although VAD has been operating internationally for a considerable time, there have been calls for more data to understand the resources required to implement VAD. What does this paper add? We found a paucity of empirically informed detail regarding the actual costs required to implement VAD. Hence, we tabulated a list of potential costs that could be used for subsequent evaluation and outline a research agenda. What are the implications for practitioners? Given that a significant number of practitioners may be directly or indirectly involved in VAD it is important that associated costs are clearly outlined so that appropriate resource allocation can be considered.

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