Christine Metusela1, Natalie Cochrane2, Hannah van Werven3, Tim Usherwood4, Shahana Ferdousi5, Ray Messom5, Diana O'Halloran6, Michael Fasher6, Andrew Page7, Steven Trankle2, Penelope Abbott2, W Kathy Tannous7, Kath Peters8, Kirsten Meisinger9, Jennifer Reath2. 1. Department of General Practice, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Narellan Road and Gilchrist Drive, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; and Present address: School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. 2. Department of General Practice, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Narellan Road and Gilchrist Drive, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia. 3. Department of General Practice, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Narellan Road and Gilchrist Drive, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; and Present address: Locum GP at Huisartsenpraktijk De Es, H. Leefsmastraat 4, 7556 JG Hengelo, The Netherlands; and Present address: Huisartsenpraktijk Voss, Jacob Roggeveenstraat 51, 7534 CD Enschede, The Netherlands. 4. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Anderson Stuart Building, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia. 5. Western Sydney Primary Health Network, Blacktown, 85 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown, NSW 2148, Australia. 6. Department of General Practice, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Narellan Road and Gilchrist Drive, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; and Western Sydney Primary Health Network, Blacktown, 85 Flushcombe Road, Blacktown, NSW 2148, Australia. 7. Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Narellan Road and Gilchrist Drive, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia. 8. Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Narellan Road and Gilchrist Drive, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia; and School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Narellan Road and Gilchrist Drive, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia. 9. Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Center for Primary Care, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rising health costs and health inequity are major challenges in Australia, as internationally. Strong primary health care is well evidenced to address these challenges. Primary Health Networks (PHNs) work with general practices to collect data and support quality improvement; however, there is no consensus regarding what defines high quality. This paper describes the development of an evidence-based suite of indicators and measures of high-quality general practice for the Australian context. METHODS: We reviewed the literature to develop a suitable framework and revise quality assurance measures currently in use, then reviewed these in three workshops with general practitioners, practice managers, nurses, consumers and PHN staff in western Sydney. We used a descriptive qualitative research approach to analyse the data. RESULTS: A total of 125 evidence-based indicators were agreed to be relevant, and 80 were deemed both relevant and feasible. These were arranged across a framework based on the Quadruple Aim, and include structure, process and outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: The agreed suite of indicators and measures will be further validated in collaboration with PHNs across Australia. This work has the potential to inform health systems innovation both nationally and internationally.
BACKGROUND: Rising health costs and health inequity are major challenges in Australia, as internationally. Strong primary health care is well evidenced to address these challenges. Primary Health Networks (PHNs) work with general practices to collect data and support quality improvement; however, there is no consensus regarding what defines high quality. This paper describes the development of an evidence-based suite of indicators and measures of high-quality general practice for the Australian context. METHODS: We reviewed the literature to develop a suitable framework and revise quality assurance measures currently in use, then reviewed these in three workshops with general practitioners, practice managers, nurses, consumers and PHN staff in western Sydney. We used a descriptive qualitative research approach to analyse the data. RESULTS: A total of 125 evidence-based indicators were agreed to be relevant, and 80 were deemed both relevant and feasible. These were arranged across a framework based on the Quadruple Aim, and include structure, process and outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: The agreed suite of indicators and measures will be further validated in collaboration with PHNs across Australia. This work has the potential to inform health systems innovation both nationally and internationally.