title: Understanding patient access patterns for primary health-care services for Aboriginal and Islander people in Queensland: a geospatial mapping approach.
abstract: This paperexplores the patterns ofpatients'accessingsix Aboriginal and Islander CommunityControlled Health Services (AICCHSs) in Queensland. Between August 2011 and February 2014, 26199 patients made at least one visit over a 2-year period prior to at least one of six Queensland AICCHS - one urban service (RA 1) in south-east Queensland, and five services in regional towns (RA 3) in Far North Queensland. Geospatial mapping of addresses for these registered patients was undertaken. The outcomes analysed included travel times to, the proportion of catchment populations using each AICCHS and an assessment of alternative mainstream general practice availability to these patients was made. In brief, the use of AICCHS was higher than Australian Bureau of Statistics census data would suggest. Approximately 20% of clients travel more than 30min to seek Aboriginal Health services, but only 8% of patients travelled longer than 60min. In the major city site, many other general practitioner (GP) services were bypassed. The data suggest Aboriginal and Islander patients in Queensland appear to value community-controlled primary care services. The number of Indigenous clients in regional locations in the Far North Queensland registered with services is often higher than the estimated resident population numbers.
authors: Centre for Research Excellence for the Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Rural and Remote High Risk Populations, Centre for Population Health Research, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Panaretto
authors: Centre for Research Excellence for the Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Rural and Remote High Risk Populations, Centre for Population Health Research, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Dellit
authors: James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville City, Qld 4811, Australia.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hollins
authors: Mulungu Corporation for Medical Corporation, 162-164 Walsh Street, Mareeba, Qld 4880, Australia.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Wason
authors: Wuchopperen, Health Service, 6 Moignard Street, Manoora, Qld 4870, Australia.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Sidhom
authors: Kalwun Health Service, 2020 Gold Coast Highway, Miami, Qld 4220, Australia.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Chilcott
authors: Wuchopperen, Health Service, 6 Moignard Street, Manoora, Qld 4870, Australia.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Malthouse
authors: Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, 55 Russell Street, South Brisbane, Qld 4101, Australia.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Andrews
authors: Apunipima Cape York Health Council, 186 Mccoombe Street, Bungalow, Qld 4870, Australia.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mein
authors: Mamu, 10 Ernest Street, Innisfail, Qld 4860, Australia.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Ahkee
authors: Centre for Research Excellence for the Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Rural and Remote High Risk Populations, Centre for Population Health Research, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: McDermott
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011793:Queensland