Meeting dates: 30 November and 1 December 2017
In 2014-2015 almost half (47%) of the potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH) in Australia were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, cellulitis, kidney and urinary tract infections (UTI), and diabetes complications. When comparing Queensland to the other states and territories, Queensland has the second highest rates for all five PPHs. While some variation in care is expected, do you think this is reasonable?
Understanding the underlying reasons for marked differences is critical to improving the quality, value and appropriateness of care.
The Second Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation reports substantial variation in healthcare delivered between local areas. In Queensland, variation was greatest for diabetes complications (approximately 12-fold difference), COPD and cellulitis (approximately 10-fold difference for both). Rates of hospitalisation for heart failure and UTIs varied four-fold and three-fold respectively.
Variation in healthcare is well documented and while some variation is expected and can be a good thing, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care suggests some of it may be unwarranted.
Where is variation occurring in Queensland and why is it happening? What is the relationship between variation, quality and healthcare outcomes? If clinical decisions are a key driver of healthcare variation, how should we respond to improve the quality of care we provide?
By looking at PPH in Queensland as an example, this meeting is an opportunity for Senate members and guests to consider these questions and more.
- Meeting documentation:
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- Dare to compare report (PDF 665 kB)
- QCS meeting agenda (PDF 80 kB)
- The Second Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation 2017
- Presentations
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- The Second Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation: what does it tell us? - Anne Duggan (PDF, 1.65MB)
- Healthcare Variation: Opportunities and recommendations for improvement - Anne Duggan (PDF, 1.64MB)
- Diabetes complications - A/Prof Anthony Russell (PDF, 1.36MB)
- Rural and remote - Assoc Prof Alan Bruce Chater (PDF, 823KB)
- Challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - Carmel Nelson (PDF, 187KB)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Heart FailureChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Heart Failure - Casey Kean Khoo (PDF, 1.86MB)
- Kidney and Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) - Dr Ian Williams (PDF, 636KB)
- Potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH) - Jane Partridge (PDF, 247KB)
- Reducing Unwarranted Clinical Variation: Lessons from NSW- Raj Verma (PDF, 494KB)
