Medicare Local-Local Health Network partnerships in South Australia: lessons for Primary Health Networks

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Date
2015-09-07
Authors
Javanparast, Sara
Baum, Fran
Barton, Elsa
Freeman, Toby
Lawless, Angela Patricia
Fuller, Jeffrey
Reed, Richard Lewis
Kidd, Michael Richard
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australasian Medical Publishing Company Ltd
Rights
© 2015 AMPCo Pty Ltd. Produced with Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Rights Holder
AMPCo Pty Ltd. Produced with Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Abstract
Objectives: To examine the partnerships in population health planning between Medicare Locals (MLs) and Local Health Networks (LHNs) in South Australia, and the factors that facilitated or constrained collaborations, to offer lessons for LHNs and Primary Health Networks. Design, participants and setting: We conducted a qualitative study using individual interviews with key informants (executive or program leader staff) from the five South Australian MLs and the five South Australian LHNs. A total of 34 interviews were conducted between March and July 2014. Results: Significant work was undertaken by MLs in the process of population health planning and needs assessment. Participants from both MLs and LHNs described examples of collaborative work, including data sharing and synthesis, program implementation and community consultation. The focus of LHNs on acute and intermediate care, the lack of system-level strategies to support collaboration, and constant policy and structural changes leading to uncertainty in the primary health care landscape were perceived as key barriers to collaboration. Conclusions: The experience of MLs and their achievements in building relationships and trust with stakeholders in their regions, including LHNs, provide valuable lessons for the new Primary Health Networks in Australia.
Description
Copyright 2015 Australasian Medical Publishing Company. Published version of the paper reproduced here with permission from the publisher.
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Citation
Javanparast, S., Baum, F., Barton, E., Freeman, T., Lawless, A., Fuller, J., Reed, R., & Kidd, M. (in press). Medicare Locals and Local Health Networks Partnership: Lessons for Primary Health Networks. Medical Journal of Australia 203 (5), 219.