title: Medicare Local-Local Health Network partnerships in South Australia: lessons for Primary Health Networks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the partnerships in population health planning between Medicare Locals (MLs) and Local Health Networks (LHNs) in South Australia, and the factors that facilitated or constrained collaborations, to offer lessons for LHNs and Primary Health Networks.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a qualitative study using individual interviews with key informants (executive or program leader staff) from the five South Australian MLs and the five South Australian LHNs. A total of 34 interviews were conducted between March and July 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant work was undertaken by MLs in the process of population health planning and needs assessment. Participants from both MLs and LHNs described examples of collaborative work, including data sharing and synthesis, program implementation and community consultation. The focus of LHNs on acute and intermediate care, the lack of system-level strategies to support collaboration, and constant policy and structural changes leading to uncertainty in the primary health care landscape were perceived as key barriers to collaboration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experience of MLs and their achievements in building relationships and trust with stakeholders in their regions, including LHNs, provide valuable lessons for the new Primary Health Networks in Australia.
authors: Society and Equity, Adelaide, SA sara.javanparast@flinders.edu.au.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Javanparast
authors: Society and Equity, Adelaide, SA.
authors: Fran
authors: F
authors: Baum
authors: Society and Equity, Adelaide, SA.
authors: Elsa
authors: E
authors: Barton
authors: Society and Equity, Adelaide, SA.
authors: Toby
authors: T
authors: Freeman
authors: Society and Equity, Adelaide, SA.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Lawless
authors: Flinders University, Adelaide, SA.
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Fuller
authors: Flinders University, Adelaide, SA.
authors: Richard L
authors: RL
authors: Reed
authors: Flinders University, Adelaide, SA.
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Kidd
mesh_terms: D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000592:standards*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013021:South Australia