title: Community participation in health service reform: the development of an innovative remote Aboriginal primary health-care service.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the reorientation of a remote primary health-care service, in the Kimberley region of Australia, its impact on access to services and the factors instrumental in bringing about change. A unique community-initiated health service partnership was developed between a community-controlled Aboriginal health organisation, a government hospital and a population health unit, in order to overcome the challenges of delivering primary health care to a dispersed, highly disadvantaged Aboriginal population in a very remote area. The shared goals and clear delineation of responsibilities achieved through the partnership reoriented an essentially acute hospital-based service to a prevention-focussed comprehensive primary health-care service, with a focus on systematic screening for chronic disease, interdisciplinary follow up, health promotion, community advocacy and primary prevention. This formal partnership enabled the primary health-care service to meet the major challenges of providing a sustainable, prevention-focussed service in a very remote and socially disadvantaged area.
authors: Carole
authors: C
authors: Reeve
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Humphreys
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Wakerman
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Carroll
authors: Maureen
authors: M
authors: Carter
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: O'Brien
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Erlank
authors: Rafik
authors: R
authors: Mansour
authors: Bec
authors: B
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*