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REMOTE AREA HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA: PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT
Author(s) -
Wakerman John,
Field Pat
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
australian journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.48
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1584
pISSN - 1038-5282
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1584.1998.tb00277.x
Subject(s) - citizen journalism , service delivery framework , primary care , health services , primary health care , business , nursing , health care delivery , service (business) , medicine , environmental planning , health care , family medicine , environmental health , geography , political science , computer science , world wide web , marketing , law , population
This paper provides a description of initiatives and changes made in remote primary healthcare service delivery in Central Australia. These changes included the introduction of an orientation and Aboriginal cultural awareness program, revising the recruitment process to include communities in staff selection, developing policies and protocols to support practice, and increasing support for remote area staff through managers being out and about in remote areas. The change from centralised management to an increasingly decentralised participatory management model, and involving local communities and local staff in decision making, was initiated early in the change process and continues to be of prime importance. After 5 years of intensive effort, it is clear that despite these initiatives sustainable change has been elusive and some problems remain. Further change and development is necessary. A number of new initiatives are described, including a Menzies School of Health Research project that examines structural issues, which will provide direction for the future by providing better support for remote area staff and facilitating greater community participation.