Reference: 2009-011 - Evaluation of Rural/Remote-Tertiary Paediatric Partnership Program

Researchers: Ms Sue Peter, Nursing Director Ambulatory Care Services (Princess Margaret Hospital)

Funding: State Health Research Advisory Council

Project summary: At PMH in 2007 there were approximately 2,000 hospital admissions and 10,000 outpatient appointments for children residing in rural/remote areas. A large number of these (approximately one quarter) were from the Kimberley and Goldfield regions. Of the OPD appointments, approximately 1,600 were not attended. The average length of stay for these children was 4.6 days, compared with 2.9 days for children residing in the metropolitan area. In the current climate of increasing hospital demand and a shift towards Ambulatory Care Services it was deemed necessary to introduce an alternative, economically viable model of care coordination. The model of care trialled in this research study offers an integrated care coordination/case management program for children who live in the rural and remote regions. This partnership coordinated program, between the Kimberley and Goldfield health services and PMH, aims to reduce the need for unnecessary travel to PMH, reduce length of hospital stays, and increase the usage of local health services with the support of PMH. This research study is designed as an interventional study and the aim is to test the following hypotheses:

  1. The Rural/Remote – Tertiary Paediatric Partnership Program will provide significant economic benefit to the WA health service through the reduction in hospital admissions, hospital length of stay and outpatient appointments within Princess Margaret Hospital, and reduction in the use of Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) by rural/remote health services.

  2. The rural/remote care coordination program is a model of care that achieves improved health care utilitsation and is highly evaluated by families.

Progress: Completed in 2011