Bush Battles: The Challenges of Providing Acute Health Care in Rural Contexts in Australia

Parker, Vicki Therese; Giles, Michelle; Parmenter, Glenda; Higgins, Isabel; Paliadelis, Penelope S; White, Angela

Author(s)

Parker, Vicki Therese

Giles, Michelle

Parmenter, Glenda

Higgins, Isabel

Paliadelis, Penelope S

White, Angela

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

Introduction: In Australia, the rural health care environment is characterized by increasing disadvantage in relation to access to services and resources. Within this context, health professionals are challenged to provide what they feel is good-quality health care in a community of which they are a part. This paper presents the results of a study which aimed to: • identify challenges confronting health care professionals in rural acute care settings and • facilitate interprofessional collaboration in working toward improved patient outcomes and staff participation. Method: A mixed method approach involved a consultative, participatory process. An initial survey was followed by focus groups and workshops. The target population was health care professionals across disciplines, in rural acute care facilities within one large Area Health Service in NSW, Australia. Workshops facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration to identify strategies for addressing concerns with the aim of developing priorities for practice change projects. Results: Results highlighted issues to do with staffing, isolation and communication as most significantly impacting on staff and patient outcomes. Access to resources and support services was the most frequently cited challenge. Results were consistent across professions and sites within the Area Health service. Focus groups identified a range of issues related to geographic and professional isolation, working with and apart from larger centers, generalist practice, and insufficient services and staff. Conclusion: Findings point to the urgent need to support clinicians through the mobilization of strategies that are context specific, locally based and led, but at the same time transferrable across sites.

Citation

International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 9(4), p. 377-377

ISSN

1609-4069

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9349

Language

en

Publisher

University of Alberta

Title

Bush Battles: The Challenges of Providing Acute Health Care in Rural Contexts in Australia

Type of document

Conference Publication

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Parker, Vicki Therese Giles, Michelle Parmenter, Glenda Higgins, Isabel Paliadelis, Penelope S White, Angela
Publication Date	2010
Abstract	Introduction: In Australia, the rural health care environment is characterized by increasing disadvantage in relation to access to services and resources. Within this context, health professionals are challenged to provide what they feel is good-quality health care in a community of which they are a part. This paper presents the results of a study which aimed to: • identify challenges confronting health care professionals in rural acute care settings and • facilitate interprofessional collaboration in working toward improved patient outcomes and staff participation. Method: A mixed method approach involved a consultative, participatory process. An initial survey was followed by focus groups and workshops. The target population was health care professionals across disciplines, in rural acute care facilities within one large Area Health Service in NSW, Australia. Workshops facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration to identify strategies for addressing concerns with the aim of developing priorities for practice change projects. Results: Results highlighted issues to do with staffing, isolation and communication as most significantly impacting on staff and patient outcomes. Access to resources and support services was the most frequently cited challenge. Results were consistent across professions and sites within the Area Health service. Focus groups identified a range of issues related to geographic and professional isolation, working with and apart from larger centers, generalist practice, and insufficient services and staff. Conclusion: Findings point to the urgent need to support clinicians through the mobilization of strategies that are context specific, locally based and led, but at the same time transferrable across sites.
Citation	International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 9(4), p. 377-377
ISSN	1609-4069
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9349
Language	en
Publisher	University of Alberta
Title	Bush Battles: The Challenges of Providing Acute Health Care in Rural Contexts in Australia
Type of document	Conference Publication
Entity Type	Publication

Bush Battles: The Challenges of Providing Acute Health Care in Rural Contexts in Australia

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