scholarly journals COVID-19 – Protocol for Observational Studies Utilising Near Real-Time Electronic Australian General Practice Data to Promote Effective Care and Best-Practice Policy – A Design Thinking Approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Georgiou ◽  
Julie Li ◽  
Christopher Pearce ◽  
Adam McLeod ◽  
Nasir Wabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Networks ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Effective Care ◽  
General Practices ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Health systems around the world have been forced to make choices about how to prioritise care, manage infection control and maintain reserve capacity for future disease outbreaks. Primary health care has moved into the frontline as COVID-19 testing transitions from hospitals to multiple providers, where tracking testing behaviours can be fragmented and delayed. Pooled general practice data are a valuable resource which can be used to inform population and individual care decision-making. This project aims to utilise near real-time electronic general practice data to promote effective care and best-practice policy. Methods: The project will utilise a design thinking approach involving all collaborators (Primary Health Networks [PHNs], general practices, consumer groups, researchers, and digital health developers, pathology professionals) to enhance the development of meaningful and translational project outcomes. The project will be based on a series of observational studies utilising near real-time electronic general practice data from a secure and comprehensive digital health platform [POpulation Level Analysis and Reporting (POLAR) general practice data warehouse]. The study will be carried out over 1.5 years (July 2020 – December 2021) using data from over 350 general practices within three Victorian Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and Gippsland PHN, Eastern Melbourne PHN and South Eastern Melbourne PHN, supplemented by data from consenting general practices from two PHNs in New South Wales, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN and South Western Sydney PHN. Discussion: Developed using a design thinking approach, this project will deliver: 1) A near real-time geo-spatial reporting framework at community, state and nation-wide levels to identify emerging trends and monitor the impact of interventions/policy decisions. 2) Timely evidence about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic related to its diagnosis, treatment and medications prescribed and its impact on patients. 3) A predictive geo-spatial analytics dashboard for timely, evidence-based decision-making at community, state and nation-wide levels. 4) An evidence-based suite of general practice outcome measures to monitor incidence, prevalence, recovery and mortality in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals COVID-19 – Protocol for Observational Studies Utilising Near Real-Time Electronic Australian General Practice Data to Promote Effective Care and Best-Practice Policy – A Design Thinking Approach

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Georgiou ◽  
Julie Li ◽  
Christopher Pearce ◽  
Adam McLeod ◽  
Nasir Wabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Networks ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Effective Care ◽  
General Practices ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Health systems around the world have been forced to make choices about how to prioritise care, manage infection control and maintain reserve capacity for future disease outbreaks. Primary health care has moved into the frontline as COVID-19 testing transitions from hospitals to multiple providers, where tracking testing behaviours can be fragmented and delayed. Pooled general practice data are a valuable resource which can be used to inform population and individual care decision-making. This project aims to utilise near real-time electronic general practice data to promote effective care and best-practice policy. Methods: The project will utilise a design thinking approach involving all collaborators (Primary Health Networks [PHNs], general practices, consumer groups, researchers, and digital health developers, pathology professionals) to enhance the development of meaningful and translational project outcomes. The project will be based on a series of observational studies utilising near real-time electronic general practice data from a secure and comprehensive digital health platform [POpulation Level Analysis and Reporting (POLAR) general practice data warehouse]. The study will be carried out over 1.5 years (July 2020 – December 2021) using data from over 350 general practices within three Victorian Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and Gippsland PHN, Eastern Melbourne PHN and South Eastern Melbourne PHN, supplemented by data from consenting general practices from two PHNs in New South Wales, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN and South Western Sydney PHN. Discussion: Developed using a design thinking approach, this project will deliver: 1) A near real-time geo-spatial reporting framework at community, state and nation-wide levels to identify emerging trends and monitor the impact of interventions/policy decisions. 2) Timely evidence about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic related to its diagnosis, treatment and medications prescribed and its impact on patients. 3) A predictive geo-spatial analytics dashboard for timely, evidence-based decision-making at community, state and nation-wide levels. 4) An evidence-based suite of general practice outcome measures to monitor incidence, prevalence, recovery and mortality in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals COVID-19: protocol for observational studies utilizing near real-time electronic Australian general practice data to promote effective care and best-practice policy—a design thinking approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Georgiou ◽  
Julie Li ◽  
Christopher Pearce ◽  
Adam McLeod ◽  
Nasir Wabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Clinical Population ◽  
Effective Care ◽  
General Practices ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Health systems around the world have been forced to make choices about how to prioritize care, manage infection control and maintain reserve capacity for future disease outbreaks. Primary healthcare has moved into the front line as COVID-19 testing transitions from hospitals to multiple providers, where tracking testing behaviours can be fragmented and delayed. Pooled general practice data are a valuable resource which can be used to inform population and individual care decision-making. This project aims to examine the feasibility of using near real-time electronic general practice data to promote effective care and best-practice policy. Methods The project will utilize a design thinking approach involving all collaborators (primary health networks [PHNs], general practices, consumer groups, researchers, and digital health developers, pathology professionals) to enhance the development of meaningful and translational project outcomes. The project will be based on a series of observational studies utilizing near real-time electronic general practice data from a secure and comprehensive digital health platform [POpulation Level Analysis and Reporting (POLAR) general practice data warehouse]. The study will be carried out over 1.5 years (July 2020–December 2021) using data from over 450 general practices within three Victorian PHNs and Gippsland PHN, Eastern Melbourne PHN and South Eastern Melbourne PHN, supplemented by data from consenting general practices from two PHNs in New South Wales, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN and South Western Sydney PHN. Discussion The project will be developed using a design thinking approach, leading to the building of a meaningful near real-time COVID-19 geospatial reporting framework and dashboard for decision-makers at community, state and nationwide levels, to identify and monitor emerging trends and the impact of interventions/policy decisions. This will integrate timely evidence about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic related to its diagnosis and treatment, and its impact across clinical, population and general practice levels.

Accreditation in Primary Health: RACGP Standards for General Practice

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halina Hili
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Continuous Quality Improvement ◽  
Health Expenditure ◽  
Accreditation Process ◽  
Accreditation System ◽  
Continuous Quality ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Profound Influence ◽  
General Practices ◽  
The Impact

General Practitioners play a crucial role as “gate-keepers” to the health system. In this context, they have a profound influence on both health outcomes and health expenditure. Since the introduction in 1999 of a formal, peer-driven external accreditation process, over 4,590 Australian general practices have achieved full accreditation. The process of re-ccreditation has commenced, subsequent to a review of the original standards, and with an ongoing focus on continuous quality improvement. This article describes a typical accreditation survey visit, and explains the accreditation criteria and how they are reviewed by the surveyors. There is discussion also of the impact of this new accreditation system on general practice.

scholarly journals ‘Motivational work’: a qualitative study of preventive health dialogues in general practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Broholm-Jørgensen ◽  
Siff Monrad Langkilde ◽  
Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen ◽  
Pia Vivian Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Support System ◽  
Preventive Intervention ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Clinical Encounter ◽  
Preventive Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Municipal Health

Abstract Background The aim of this article is to explore preventive health dialogues in general practice in the context of a pilot study of a Danish primary preventive intervention ‘TOF’ (a Danish acronym for ‘Early Detection and Prevention’) carried out in 2016. The intervention consisted of 1) a stratification of patients into one of four groups, 2) a digital support system for both general practitioners and patients, 3) an individual digital health profile for each patient, and 4) targeted preventive services in either general practice or a municipal health center. Methods The empirical material in this study was obtained through 10 observations of preventive health dialogues conducted in general practices and 18 semi-structured interviews with patients and general practitioners. We used the concept of ‘motivational work’ as an analytical lens for understanding preventive health dialogues in general practice from the perspectives of both general practitioners and patients. Results While the health dialogues in TOF sought to reveal patients’ motivations, understandings, and priorities related to health behavior, we find that the dialogues were treatment-oriented and structured around biomedical facts, numeric standards, and risk factor guidance. Overall, we find that numeric standards and quantification of motivation lessens the dialogue and interaction between General Practitioner and patient and that contextual factors relating to the intervention framework, such as a digital support system, the general practitioners’ perceptions of their professional position as well as the patients’ understanding of prevention —in an interplay—diminished the motivational work carried out in the health dialogues. Conclusion The findings show that the influence of different kinds of context adds to the complexity of prevention in the clinical encounter which help to explain why motivational work is difficult in general practice.

scholarly journals Standing order use in general practice: the views of medicine, nursing and pharmacy stakeholder organisations

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn Taylor ◽  
Eileen McKinlay ◽  
Caroline Morris
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Timely Manner ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Standing Order ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Pharmacy Data ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Standing orders are used by many general practices in New Zealand. They allow a practice nurse to assess patients and administer and/or supply medicines without needing intervention from a general practitioner. AIM To explore organisational strategic stakeholders’ views of standing order use in general practice nationally. METHODS Eight semi-structured, qualitative, face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants representing key primary care stakeholder organisations from nursing, medicine and pharmacy. Data were analysed using a qualitative inductive thematic approach. RESULTS Three key themes emerged: a lack of understanding around standing order use in general practice, legal and professional concerns, and the impact on workforce and clinical practice. Standing orders were perceived to extend nursing practice and seen as a useful tool in enabling patients to access medicines in a safe and timely manner. DISCUSSION The variability in understanding of the definition and use of standing orders appears to relate to a lack of leadership in this area. Leadership should facilitate the required development of standardised resources and quality assurance measures to aid implementation. If these aspects are addressed, then standing orders will continue to be a useful tool in general practice and enable patients to have access to health care and, if necessary, to medicines without seeing a general practitioner.

scholarly journals IoT-Based Patient Movement Monitoring: The Post-Operative Hip Fracture Rehabilitation Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 195
Author(s):  
Akash Gupta ◽  
Adnan Al-Anbuky
Keyword(s):  
Hip Fracture ◽  
Real Time ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Time Behavior ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Rehabilitation Process ◽  
Rehabilitation Model ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Movement Monitoring

Hip fracture incidence is life-threatening and has an impact on the person’s physical functionality and their ability to live independently. Proper rehabilitation with a set program can play a significant role in recovering the person’s physical mobility, boosting their quality of life, reducing adverse clinical outcomes, and shortening hospital stays. The Internet of Things (IoT), with advancements in digital health, could be leveraged to enhance the backup intelligence used in the rehabilitation process and provide transparent coordination and information about movement during activities among relevant parties. This paper presents a post-operative hip fracture rehabilitation model that clarifies the involved rehabilitation process, its associated events, and the main physical movements of interest across all stages of care. To support this model, the paper proposes an IoT-enabled movement monitoring system architecture. The architecture reflects the key operational functionalities required to monitor patients in real time and throughout the rehabilitation process. The approach was tested incrementally on ten healthy subjects, particularly for factors relevant to the recognition and tracking of movements of interest. The analysis reflects the significance of personalization and the significance of a one-minute history of data in monitoring the real-time behavior. This paper also looks at the impact of edge computing at the gateway and a wearable sensor edge on system performance. The approach provides a solution for an architecture that balances system performance with remote monitoring functional requirements.

scholarly journals Round table: Online anti-vaccination movements: the role of social media in public health communications

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Hpv Vaccine ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Digital health has revolutionised healthcare, with implications for understanding public reaction to health emergencies and interventions. Social media provides a space where like-minded people can share interests and concerns in real-time, regardless of their location. This can be a force for good, as platforms like Twitter can spread correct information about outbreaks, for example in the 2009 swine flu pandemic. However, social media can also disseminate incorrect information or deliberately spread misinformation leading to adverse public health sentiment and outcomes. The current issues around trust in vaccines is the best-known example. Vaccine hesitancy, traditionally linked to issues of trust, misinformation and prior beliefs, has been increasingly fueled by influential groups on social media and the Internet. Ultimately, anti-vaccination movements have the potential to lead to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, especially if refusal is concentrated locally, creating vulnerable populations. For example, 2018-19 saw a large increase in incidence of measles in the US and Europe (where cases tripled from 2017), two regions where the disease was already or almost eliminated. In 2019, the World Health Organisation listed anti-vaccination movements as one of the top 10 threats to global public health. HPV vaccination is another example of the impact of anti-vaccination movements. As viral videos originating on YouTube spread across social networks, uptake has tumbled in a number of countries, with Japan, Denmark, Colombia and Ireland being badly hit. In Japan, the government came under sufficient pressure that they de-recommended HPV vaccine, seeing an 80% uptake rate fall below 1% in 2014. There have been reports of successful interventions by national governments. A recent campaign run by the HPV Alliance (a coalition of some 35 private companies, charities and public institutions) in Ireland has seen rates below 40% back up to a national average of 75%. A combination of hard-hitting personal testimonials, social media and traditional media promoted the HPV vaccine. Despite this, systematic engagement and supranational strategies are still in the early stages of being formulated. As misleading information spread through social media and digital networks has undesirable impact on attitudes to vaccination (and uptake rates), urgent actions are required. Analysis and visualisation techniques mining data streams from social media platforms, such as Twitter, Youtube enable real-time understanding of vaccine sentiments and information flows. Through identification of key influencers and flashpoints in articles about vaccination going viral, targeted public health responses could be developed. This roundtable discussion will showcase different ways in which media and social networks, accessible in real-time provide an opportunity for detecting a change in public confidence in vaccines, for identifying users and rumors and for assessing potential impact in order to know how to best respond. Key messages Social media has significantly enhanced our understanding of anti-vaccination movements and potential impact on public health attitudes and behaviors regarding vaccination. Innovative methods of analysing social media data, from digital health, data science and computer science, have an important role in developing health promotions to counter anti-vaccination movements.

The Primary Care Practice Improvement Tool (PC-PIT) process for organisational improvement in primary care: application by Australian Primary Health Networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha J. Borg ◽  
Lisa Crossland ◽  
Jo Risk ◽  
Julie Porritt ◽  
Claire L. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Practice ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Health Networks ◽  
Practice Improvement ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Improvement Programs

The Primary Care Practice Improvement Tool (PC-PIT) is an organisational performance improvement tool recently implemented by two Primary Health Networks (PHNs). This study explored barriers and facilitators to implementing the PC-PIT process at scale, from the initial introduction of the tool to completion of Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles with general practices. Using a qualitative design, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 PHN staff to seek feedback on the delivery of the PC-PIT to general practices. Interview results were analysed using a grounded theory approach. The identification of barriers such as difficulty engaging practices and lack of report sharing with the PHNs will help streamline future implementation. The PC-PIT was highly compatible with existing quality improvement programs and offers enhanced opportunity to support capacity building and implementation of the Health Care Home model.

scholarly journals ‘Motivational work’: a qualitative study of preventive health dialogues in general practice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Broholm-Jørgensen ◽  
Siff Monrad Langkilde ◽  
Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen ◽  
Pia Vivian Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Support System ◽  
Preventive Intervention ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Clinical Encounter ◽  
Preventive Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
General Practices ◽  
Municipal Health

Abstract Background The aim of this article is to explore preventive health dialogues in general practice in the context of a pilot study of a Danish primary preventive intervention ‘TOF’ (a Danish acronym for ‘Early Detection and Prevention’) carried out in 2016. The intervention consisted of 1) a stratification of patients into one of four groups, 2) a digital support system for both general practitioners and patients, 3) an individual digital health profile for each patient, and 4) targeted preventive services in either general practice or a municipal health center.Methods The empirical material in this study was obtained through 10 observations of preventive health dialogues conducted in general practices and 18 semi-structured interviews with patients and general practitioners. We used the concept of ‘motivational work’ as an analytical lens for understanding preventive health dialogues in general practice from the perspectives of both general practitioners and patients.Results While the health dialogues in TOF sought to reveal patients’ motivations, understandings, and priorities related to health behavior, we find that the dialogues were treatment-oriented and structured around biomedical facts, numeric standards, and risk factor guidance. Overall, we find that numeric standards and quantification of motivation lessens the dialogue and interaction between GP and patient and that contextual factors relating to the intervention framework, such as a digital support system, the general practitioners’ perceptions of their professional position as well as the patients’ understanding of prevention —in an interplay—diminished the motivational work carried out in the health dialogues.Conclusion The findings show that the influence of different kinds of context adds to the complexity of prevention in the clinical encounter which help to explain why motivational work is difficult in general practice.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document