Transforming access, relational care, and primary health care in an urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population through patient-centred medical homes: a prospective observational cohort study using mixed methods

Dates: 2020-2024

Primary health care (PHC) systems throughout the world face the challenge of delivering quality care to growing populations with complex care needs.

The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health has overseen substantial increase in uptake of care in their clients, with demonstrable improvement in health outcomes. However, evidence is emerging of the inability of the system to effectively respond to rapid population growth, necessitating a redesign of the way care is delivered.

This prospective observational cohort study, using mixed methods, will evaluate a model of patient-centred medical homes. Unique to this model is coordinated care that is delivered by a multidisciplinary team, rather than by individual clinicians.

This study will examine the feasibility and acceptability of implementing the model of care, and whether compared to pre-implementation, this model of care improves access and relational continuity of care.

The study will also examine longer-term health outcomes (such as hospitalisations and Indigenous concepts of health), as well as cost-effectiveness.

The research findings will deliver key lessons for broader PHC system reform, as well as for Indigenous health, including related and distinct policy initiatives such as health care homes.

Lessons will also be learned in system change management in real-world, PHC settings, and Indigenous-led and Indigenous-governed models of research collaboration.

Funding

MRFF Primary Health Care Research Grant ($1,209,747.50)