CURRENT PROJECTS

Development of a comprehensive suite of consumer, carer and community performance indicators for Victorian Health Services
Tony McBride, Lauren Cordwell, Tere Dawson

This first project aims to develop a comprehensive suite of consumer, carer and community performance indicators for Victorian health services. The approach to develop the indicators will involve a consumer consultation, a literature review, a mapping exercise and a workshop with stakeholders to gain consensus on the final suite of indicators. The Lincoln Centre for Research and Ageing and the Centre for Quality Improvement Research and Practice will collaborate with Health Issues Centre to implement the project. Funding is provided by the Statewide Quality Branch, Department of Human Services



Development of a Consumer and Carer Consultation Strategy for the Home and Community Care Program
Tony McBride, Tere Dawson, Lauren Cordwell

This project involves the development of a Consumer and Carer Consultation Strategy for the Home and Community Care Program (HACC) Active Service Model Project. The project will seek information from consumers and carers to input into the development of the implementation plan for the HACC Active Service Model initiative. It will also seek consumer and carer input to determine appropriate and feasible strategies for consumer and carer contribution for the ongoing development and implementation of the model. Funding is provided by the Department of Human Services.

Analysis of findings of a Consumer Usage Questionnaire for the Inner South East Mental Health Alliance
Tere Dawson and Lauren Cordwell

This project involved the analysis of data obtained from a consumer survey conducted by the Inner South East Mental Health Alliance. The analysis aimed to increase awareness of service usage, interagency referral processes and consumer needs. A report was prepared which included findings from the analysis and recommendations for enhancing current best practice.

Consumer Nominee Program
Assunta Morrone and Lauren Cordwell

Through the Consumer Nominee Program, Health Issues Centre is working to ensure the views of consumers, carers, community members, patients and carers are heard in the design and delivery of health services and in the development of health policy in Victorian and Australia.

Health Issues Centre believes individuals who receive health services in Victoria are well placed to offer feedback and advice on how services can be improved, where services should be located and how services should be delivered.

Consumers and community members have recently been nominated by Health Issues Centre to participate in Department of Human Service Committees for Outpatient Reforms, HealthConnect, Care in Your Community, Review of Cardiac Services and Conference Planning. Other consumers have participated in a National Oral Health Advocacy Day in Canberra, conferences in Victoria and professional development workshops for health professionals.

Additional information for consumers, carers and community members and governments and health services is available from our Consumer Nominee page.

Dental Costs Study
Dell Horey, Charin Naksook and Tony McBride

Health Issues Centre, Dental Health Services Victoria and Dianella Community Health jointly undertook the study on costs of delayed dental treatment of low-income consumers. The project was funded initially by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and the Victorian Department of Human Services. An additional funding was provided by Dental Health Services Victoria.

The project aimed to estimate the costs incurred by the public health system and consumers associated with waiting lists for oral health treatment. We recruited two groups of consumers on the dental waiting list at Dianella Community Health, Broadmeadows. One group comprised people who were eligible for dental treatment after a waiting period of approximately two years and the other had joined the waiting list for two to four months. Both groups underwent a dental examination, had a dental treatment plan developed, and received the required dental treatment as part of usual care at the dental service. In addition, a questionnaire asking about impacts of delayed dental treatment on the consumers and their use of oral health services was administered in a face-to-face interview. Data for phase one of the study were collected between September 2006 and February 2007.

Phase two will involve a review of the actual dental treatment and costs for the two groups after 12 months. The analysis will include assessment of the pattern of attendance, influences on adherence to treatment plans, and it will evaluate the usefulness of an initial dental treatment plan as an economic assessment tool. This part of the study is subject to funding availability.

A report for phase one of the study will be available by April 2008. Why Is He Not Smiling an article on findings from qualitative data collected in the face-to-face interviews was published in Health Issues, No. 92, Spring 2007.

Pathways of Cancer Care that Involve Public and Private Cancer Services: North Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Cancer Service
Panayiota Romios, Tony McBride, Lauren Cordwell, Charin Naksook and Nicola Bruce

This study aims to identify the care pathway (from diagnosis to treatment completion) experienced by forty consumers whose pathway involves both public and private cancer service providers within the North Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Cancer Service (NEMICS) catchment. A literature review, an analysis of the interviews with consumers and clinicians and a range of recommendations for future service coordination will be the key outcomes of the project.

Support to the Victorian Community Advisory Committees
Jackie Mansourian and Assunta Morrone

Health Issues Centre supports the on-going development of 19 Victorian Community Advisory Committees (CACs) in Metropolitan and Regional Health Services.
The key role of CACs is to promote and advocate for participation across all levels of their health service. Health Issues Centre is available to support individual CACs with their own specific priorities and the whole of CAC network as common themes and issues unfold. One significant contribution Health Issues Centre makes is to the orientation of new Resource Officers as they begin their journey of supporting CACs.