Kevin Boots
The Murchison Health Service in central Western Australia with its partners aims to become a Centre of Excellence in Primary Health through focusing on the four areas of customers, partnerships, prevention and integration.
Customer health needs have been identified through detailed and comparative analysis of health data, and through community wide consultation. The data suggests that the region's health outcomes are currently the second worst in Western Australia and require urgent attention. Three customer groups have been identified (Aboriginal people, Miners and non-Mining non-Aboriginal people) and an innovative organisational structure has been created that facilitates the development and implementation of strategies targeted at the health needs of each group.
Partnerships have been developed with agencies including the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health, The Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and the Midwest Division of General Practice that share resources, expertise and funds. Partner agencies contribute to and participate within the framework of the five-year 'Pound of Prevention, Ton of Cure' strategic plan.
Central to the strategic plan is the importance of delivering prevention services in addition to treatment services. A unique model has been developed that provides a framework for the application of evidence-based prevention activity within the Health Service's business units.
Both the prevention and treatment activities are integrated across the health service in the local priority areas of diabetes and alcohol, with specific resources allocated to ensure that all partners participate in integrated service provision.
This paper describes customer, partnership, prevention and integration activities undertaken since July 2001 and provides examples of impacts and outputs identified.