Improving cardiovascular care for indigenous populations.
The challenges and opportunities for provision of, and access to, reliable chronic cardiovascular health care for Indigenous people were addressed by expert speakers from New Zealand and Australia. It is well recognised that cardiovascular disease is a life-long concern, requiring reliable follow-up, early transition of clinical research into practice and ongoing support of patients. The clinical outcomes and long-term prognosis of individuals with cardiovascular disease are critically dependent upon the quality and availability of follow-up and chronic care facilities. This paper summarises the principal issues identified by the expert speakers for the provision of chronic cardiovascular health care to Indigenous peoples in Australia and New Zealand; identifies common challenges and describes important initiatives which the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ), in partnership with health care professionals, communities and governments, can undertake in order to achieve the goals of uniform and equitable health care for chronic cardiovascular disease in all the Indigenous peoples, relevant to the needs of these peoples, in New Zealand and Australia. The issues addressed by the meeting include: 1) Determination of appropriate models for effective delivery of cardiovascular health care. (2) Who should deliver cardiovascular health care and what are the workforce requirements. (3) What support systems and infrastructure are required. (4) How can primary care and secondary specialist services be effectively integrated.
Jeremy
Richmond
R
University of Sydney, Australia. richmond.jeremy@sydney.edu.au
Tonkin
Andrew
A
White
Harvey
H
Riddell
Tania
T
Brieger
David
D
Walsh
Warren
W
Zeitz
Chris
C
Brown
Alex
A
Kritharides
Leonard
L
D001315:Australia; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006285:Health Planning; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment