Preventable hospitalisations in regional Queensland: potential for primary health?

Conclusions High hospitalisation rates and costs for common preventable chronic conditions represent opportunities for primary healthcare interventions. In particular, community-level health services need to be more responsive to the needs of local Indigenous families.What is known about the topic? PPH rates are used as a measure of timely access to quality primary health care, and are incrementally higher in regional and remote areas than in major cities. Investment in primary healthcare services has been shown to significantly reduce costs associated with avoidable hospitalisations.What does this paper add? This study used local health data to identify the most common PPH conditions presenting to a large regional hospital in northern Queensland, including estimation of costs and differences associated with Indigenous status. Recommendations are made to strengthen primary healthcare and reduce hospital-related costs.What are the implications for practitioners? Interventions to address high PPH rates should be tailored to meet the needs of the local population. Primary health strategies targeting common chronic conditions provide the greatest opportunity to reduce avoidable hospitalisations and costs in this regional area. Investment in collaborative, evidence-based interventions is recommended and justified, especially for Indigenous Australians. PMID: 30071920 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Australian Health Review - Category: Hospital Management Authors: Tags: Aust Health Rev Source Type: research