The Australian Health Care Agreements--a teaching hospital perspective.
The Australian Health Care Agreements (AHCAs) are important for patients, health care professionals and hospital CEOs alike. The current agreements have not been fully effective in promoting necessary reforms, and this paper suggests priority areas for attention in the next round. Five areas for targeted reform are suggested. These are pharmaceuticals, workforce planning, continuum of care across settings, education and research, and safety and quality. It is time to give some radical thought to the role and scope of the AHCAs. Healthcare policy reform needs to be across the continuum of care.
Davison
Julia
J
Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia.
D001315:Australia; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006266:Health Education; D006302:Health Services Research; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017008:Negotiating; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care