Avoiding hospitalisation: ambulatory care sensitive conditions

Abstract

This RESEARCH ROUNDup examines the scope of ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) in Australia, and their reliability as a measure of primary health care (PHC) performance. Avoidable hospitalisation statistics for Australia, Victoria and New South Wales are presented. Complications of diabetes are the most common ACSCs encountered in Australia. Rurality and socio-economic disadvantage are linked to avoidable hospitalisation.