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Welcome to AHHA News! Our new monthly email newsletter bringing together all the latest news from the Australian Healthcare and Hospital Association (AHHA), which includes the Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research and the Australian Centre for Value Based Health Care (ACVBHC).
At AHHA, our members are critical to informing our research, policy and advocacy work across the Australian healthcare landscape. Spanning the sector in its entirety, our membership includes state health departments, Local Hospital Networks and public hospitals, community health services, Primary Health Networks and primary healthcare providers, aged care providers, Universities with strengths in health services and systems research, and individual health professionals and academics.
As such, AHHA is uniquely placed to be an independent, national voice for universal high-quality healthcare that aims benefit the whole community. We are enabled to be a voice in the national health conversation, influence system wide changes and create better outcomes that matter to individuals and communities.
From the CEO’s Desk
P.S Happy International Women’s Day for 2023! AHHA celebrates all the hard-working and inspirational women working across the healthcare sector and those serving on our board and within the AHHA team. |
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About AHHA |
The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) is Australia’s national peak body for public and not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare providers.
Our board includes: |
Chair - The Hon Jillian Skinner (Independent) Dr Michael Brydon (University of Notre Dame) Ms Lynelle Hales (Sydney North Health Network) Ms Yasmin King (SkillsIQ) Professor Wendy Moyle (Griffith University) |
| Ms Susan McKee (Dental Health Services Victoria) Dr Kim Webber (cohealth) Mr Michael Culhane (ACT Health Directorate) A/Prof Anthony Schembri (St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney) |
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AHHA News |
| Member profile: St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney
A/Prof Anthony Schembri
Chief Executive Officer at St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney and
AHHA board member |
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Anthony holds appointments as Board Director of the Australian Healthcare and Hospital Association, Board Director Central & Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network, Board Director for the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Board Director for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Board Director for the National Centre for Clinical Research of Emerging Drugs, Board Director of the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, Board Councillor of Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) and Co-Chair of Australian Catholic University/St Vincent’s Nursing Research Institute.
Anthony is an Adjunct Professor in Health Sciences at the Australian Catholic University and Associate Professor of the St Vincent’s Clinical School of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales. Prior to this Anthony was employed in General Manager roles at Liverpool Hospital, Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital and Fairfield Hospital. Anthony has also held the role of Clinical Director for Allied Health and hospital social work roles. |
At St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney |
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Founded in 1857 by the Sisters of Charity, St Vincent’s Hospital is one of Australia’s most iconic Hospitals, which functions as a full service acute public teaching hospital.
Part of the NSW-based arm of St Vincent’s Health Australia, the Hospital provides significant training and research activities housing several specialty units that are internationally recognised as centres of excellence. These include heart and lung transplantation, bone marrow transplantation, cardiology, cancer care, AIDS/HIV, respiratory medicine, mental health and drug and alcohol services.
St Vincent’s Hospital strives to deliver the highest quality of patient care and is committed to continuing its founding mission of providing services to people who are poor or vulnerable through providing justice and compassionate care for all patients, their families and carers and the communities they serve. |
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Silicosis policy decisions require greater focus on workforce health and wellbeing |
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Over the last few years, we have witnessed how harmful workplaces and work practices can be to employees when the provision of a safe and healthy work environment is not front-of-mind and adequately prioritised. During the pandemic, we also witnessed how decision-making processes can be expedited to instigate rapid change, should the need arise.
We are still dealing with the long-term consequences of workplace harm and workforce burnout, with the difficulty of recruiting and retaining health workers being experienced nationwide. |
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This month, the need to address the occupational harm caused by inhaling silica dust from engineered stone has dominated policy and media debate.
Organisations like the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) are calling on the federal government to immediately ban engineered stone imports as recommended by the National Dust Disease Taskforce in June 2021. Despite the dangers of silica being raised at the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) Health Council in October 2018, the issue of exposure to silica dusts persists.
Silicosis can take years to detect and has limited treatment options. Even if a ban is put in place now, new cases of silicosis could be detected over the coming decades. Therefore, it is crucial that the issue is addressed promptly. |
| The cost of the displacement of workers and the impact on businesses is also important to consider. There is a lack of consideration and available data to quantify the long-term cost of inaction to workers health and the health system.
This was evident at the February meeting of Work Health and Safety Ministers where the Safe Work Australia report was discussed. The report, which included data on costs to businesses as a consequence of banning stone imports, paid little attention to the data around the health impacts of working with engineered stone.
Without good data government decisions on workplace health and safety are limited. This lesson should have been learnt during the pandemic, namely that there are consequences for not protecting the health and wellbeing of a workforce. |
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The value of investment in health services and systems research |
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As a modern society, we rely on an effective and responsive healthcare system to underpin our quality of life. Recent system shocks and macrotrends placing unprecedented pressure on our health system emphasise how research that focuses on health policy, health economics and more directly on the structure and function of the health system is urgently needed.
For health services to meet people’s needs into the future, the stronger the evidence base, the better equipped the system will be. In turn, evidence needs to be facilitated through organisational processes and direct engagement between practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. This requires sustained investment in research translation and implementation science through integrated and multi-disciplined research networks that consider the many facets of the health system.
Health services and systems research is a key enabler of a resilient, efficient, and effective health system. With this comes a pressing need to elevate and support health researchers to strive for innovation, and proactively support an agenda which sees solutions implemented to advance the Australian health system to meet both current needs and future shocks. |
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Deeble Institute scholar highlight
Breanna Weigel
PhD Candidate
National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University
Brianna is a third year PhD candidate at NCNED, investigating the patient illness experience of Australians living with chronic multi-systemic illness such as Long COVID. |
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Living with Long COVID has repercussions on multiple aspects of life, from poor physical health, to social isolation, disruptions to work, and not being able to perform typical daily activities. To manage the symptoms and challenges associated with the condition in the absence of a cure, the patient experience must guide the development and delivery of care for Long COVID patients. |
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Articles of interest |
The journey to a learning health system in primary care: a qualitative case study utilising an embedded research approach This study aimed to establish which elements of the learning health system were being realised within a general practice and determine acceptability to further transition. |
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The FDA Initiative to Assure Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Clinical Trials A new draft guidance from the US Food and Drug Administration addresses plans to enrol more participants from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations into clinical trials. |
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The cost-effectiveness of universal hepatitis B screening for reaching WHO diagnosis targets in Australia by 2030 This study analysed the impact, cost, and cost-effectiveness of universal hepatitis B screening strategies in Australia to best reach impact targets by 2030. |
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A roadmap to scalable value-based payments in Australian health care |
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Last month, a record number of attendees tuned in to hear from inaugural Deeble Institute Fellow Professor Henry Cutler (Director, MUCHE), who spoke about his policy brief ‘A roadmap towards scalable value-based payments in Australian healthcare’.
This was followed by a panel discussion, facilitated by Adj AProf Rebecca Haddock (Executive Director Knowledge Exchange, AHHA) with health economics experts Dr Michael Wright (Chair CESPHN; RACGP Chair Expert Committee, Funding and Health System Reform) and Prof Kees van Gool (Executive Director, Pricing and Analytics, IHACPA). |
| Discussion centred around the need for shift to occur within a whole-of-health system, the requirement for long-term vision, how value-payment models should be trialled and evaluated within a strong learning ecosystem and the need for a structured and supportive policy framework
The recording of the webinar and following panel discussion are now available. |
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 | Become a MRFF Grant Assessment Committee Member
Decisions on which projects should receive MRFF grant funding are based on the assessments of independent MRFF Grant Assessment Committee (GAC) members, comprising national and international assessors who consider applications against technical and non-technical assessment criteria, with a strong focus on impact and value. If you are interested in becoming a GAC member, register your interest on the NHMRC website. | |
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follow the Deeble Institute on socials |
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Australian Health Review is an international, peer-reviewed journal that publishes contributions on all aspects of health policy, management and governance; healthcare delivery systems; workforce; health financing; and other matters of interest to those working in health care. In addition to analyses and commentary, the journal publishes original research from practitioners – managers and clinicians – and reports of breakthrough projects that demonstrate better ways of delivering care.
Australian Health Review explores major national and international health issues and questions, enabling health professionals to keep their fingers on the pulse of the nation’s health decisions and to know what the most influential commentators and decision makers are thinking.
The journal can also be accessed via the AHHA homepage. |
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New CEO for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care |
Conjoint Professor Anne Duggan has been appointed as the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s new Chief Executive Officer. Professor Duggan will take up the position from 27 March 2023, succeeding Adjunct Professor Debora Picone AO, who retired in September 2022 after a decade as CEO. |
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| Cyber Security Strategy Discussion Paper | In late 2022, Minister for Cyber Security, the Hon. Clare O’Neil MP, announced the development of the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy and has now appointed an Expert Advisory Board to advise on the development of the Strategy.
The Expert Advisory Board has released a discussion paper seeking your views on how Government can achieve its vision under the 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy. |
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| International Women’s Day 2023 | International Women’s Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements and strides forward made for women’s equality, but it also important to reflect on the work still to be done. This week, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet released a Status of Women Report Card, with Australia ranked as 43rd for gender equality internationally. |
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Value based health care |
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VBHC in primary care in Australia: how far we have travelled? |
In 2019 AHHA’s Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research published a policy brief ‘Value Based Health Care: Setting the scene for Australia‘. The brief explored the current state and readiness of Australia’s healthcare’s system to support VBHC implementation through the lens of the Economist Intelligence Unit four domains: Enabling context, policy and institutions for value in health care Measuring outcomes and costs Integrated and patient-focused care Outcome-based payment approach
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The brief highlighted the important enablers of value-based health care present in Australia, and the barriers to adoption. It identified the need for sustained cultural change at all levels and across all sectors which would require: an aligned vision and action; incremental changes made within a comprehensive transformation strategy; distributed leadership being fostered; staff engagement being promoted; collaborative relationships being created; and the continual assessment and learning from change.
The brief also highlighted the need to invest in the development of evidence in the Australian context, and around what considers value in the context of universal health care, and broadly across the health system.
Three years later Dawda et al (2022) have used the same Economist Intelligence Unit domains to demonstrate how far we have travelled towards the creation of a value driven primary care system. In this article ‘Value-based primary care in Australia: how far have we travelled?’ they discuss 11 initiatives and programs that have been implemented in Australia to support the shift towards VBHC in primary care and highlight priority areas for future work.
In the context of the ‘Strengthening Medicare Report’ and the recognised need for primary care reform it is timely to check in and consider just how far we have come in transforming the health system towards VBHC but also how far we still have to go to create a health system that is delivering equitable value for Australians. |
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VBHC funding reform: how payment models can transform healthcare systems |
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How to fund healthcare is an issue impacting health systems all around the world. Individuals and systems are reaching the limits of what they can afford to spend on healthcare, and this spend is not always correlated with improved outcomes for people and communities. This is true too for Australia, with the recent ‘Strengthening Medicare Taskforce’ report identifying that current funding models are no longer fit for purpose.
Value based payment models present an opportunity to address growing healthcare spending through incentivising the transformation of how healthcare is delivered to re-focus on creating value, as guided by the outcomes that matter to people and communities, and accountability for resources within the system.
A recent insight report from the World Economic Forum, ‘The Moment of Truth for Healthcare Spending: How Payment Models can Transform Healthcare Systems’, presents a thematic exploration into payment models as an enabler of value-based healthcare. It takes current perspectives using real experiences and case studies across healthcare stakeholders to provide guiding principles and concrete recommendations for implementing and deploying value-based healthcare payments across the globe. |
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| Clinical variation case study in Victoria | Understanding variation in health care is an important part of improving health outcomes for people and communities. Variation in itself is not necessarily bad, and it can be good if it reflects health services responding to differences in patient preferences or underlying needs. When a difference in the use of health services does not reflect these factors, it is unwarranted variation and represents an opportunity for the health system to improve.
As part of their user guide for reviewing clinical variation, The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has recently published a new case study in which The Paediatric Clinical Network at Safer Care Victoria (SCV) partnered with five health services in Victoria to substantially reduce readmissions after paediatric tonsillectomy. |
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Articles of interest |
Health policy evaluation in rural and remote Australia: a qualitative exploration and lessons from the Northern Territory (Article may be paywalled for non AHHA members) This study explored approaches of government policymakers to health policy evaluation (HPE) in Australian rural and remote settings. |
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Show me the money: how do we justify spending health care dollars on digital health? This article explores how health systems are now shifting from perceiving digital health as a cost that needs to be recouped to a quality improvement tool that can positively transform health care. |
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The journey to a learning health system in primary care: a qualitative case study utilising an embedded research approach This research presents a case study of a general practice that is operating as a learning health system and highlights the utility of using the learning health system framework. |
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Identifying Safety Practices Perceived as Low Value: An Exploratory Survey of Healthcare Staff in the United Kingdom and Australia With increasing recognition of the problem of ‘safety clutter’ in organisations, it is important to consider de-implementing safety practices that do not benefit patients, to create the time needed to deliver effective, person-centred, and safe care. This study surveyed healthcare staff to identify safety practices perceived to be of low value. |
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follow the ACVBHC on socials |
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Events |
Providing the health system with a strategic voice in vocational education and training |
| Date: 23 March 2023 Time: 12 noon - 1:30 pm (AEDT)
Join us for a panel discussion on the importance of VET in health workforce development. How do we, as industry, drive collaboration across sectors, address strategic workforce challenges and ensure qualifications are developed and updated faster to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare system in caring for Australians? | |
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Strengthening Medicare: how do we redefine the roles of primary and acute care to drive value for people, communities and the system? |
| Date: 29 March 2023 Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm (AEDT)
Presented in partnership with Wild Health, this webinar will aim to explore the potential of redefining roles in primary and acute care to improve healthcare and maximise value. Providing insights into the challenges and opportunities in strengthening Medicare and optimising healthcare delivery, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and participate in discussions on what the future of healthcare Australia should look like. | |
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