“The report, compiled by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, shows us that high hospitalisation rates often point to inadequate primary care in the community, leading to higher rates of potentially preventative hospitalization
The most disturbing example of this has been the higher hospitalisation rates for all of the 18 clinical conditions surveyed experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, people living in areas of relative socioeconomic disadvantage and those living in remote areas.
Chairman of Consumers Health Forum, Tony Lawson who is a member of the Atlas Advisory Group.
“Additional priorities for investigation and action are hospitalisation rates for specific populations with chronic conditions and cardiovascular conditions, particularly:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
- People living in remote areas
- People at most socioeconomic disadvantage.
Please note
- Features of the second Atlas include: Analysis of data by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status
DOWNLOAD Key-findings-and-recommendations
Mr Martin Bowles Secretary Dept of Health launches the Second Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation #Atlas2
A new report showing dramatic differences in treatment rates around Australia signals a pressing need for reforms to ensure equitable access to appropriate health care for all Australians, the Consumers Health Forum, says.
“A seven-fold difference in hospitalisation for heart failure and a 15-fold difference for a serious chronic respiratory disease depending on place of residence, are among many findings of substantial variations in treatment rates in Australia revealed in the Second Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation,” the chairman of Consumers Health Forum, Tony Lawson, said.
“While there are a variety of factors contributing to these differences, the variation in health and treatment outcomes is, as the report states, an ‘alarm bell’ that should make us stop and investigate whether appropriate care is being delivered.
“These findings show that recommended care for chronic diseases is not always provided. Even with the significant funding provided through Medicare to better coordinate primary care for people with chronic and complex conditions, fragmented health services contribute to suboptimal management, as the report states.
“We support the report’s recommendation for a stronger primary health system that would provide a clinical ‘home base’ for coordination of patient care and in which patients and carers are activated to develop their knowledge and confidence to manage their health with the aid of a healthcare team.
“The Atlas provides further robust reasons for federal, state and territory governments to act on the demonstrated need for a more effective primary health system that will ensure better and more cost effective care for all Australians.
“The Atlas also examined variations in women’s health care, and its findings included a seven-fold difference in rates of hysterectomy and 21-fold difference in rates of endometrial ablation. The report states that rates of hysterectomy and caesarean sections in Australia are higher than reported rates in other developed nations. These results highlight the need for continuing support and information on women’s health issues,” Mr Lawson said.
The Second Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation (second Atlas) paints a picture of marked variation in the use of 18 clinical areas (hospitalisations, surgical procedures and complications) across Australia.
This Atlas, the second to be released by the Commission, illuminates variation by mapping use of health care according to where people live. As well, this Atlas identifies specific achievable actions for exploration and quality improvement.
The second Atlas includes interventions not covered in the first Atlas, such as hospitalisations for chronic diseases and caesarean section in younger women. It also builds on the findings from the first Atlas – for example, examining hysterectomy and endometrial ablation separately, and examining rates of cataract surgery using a different dataset.
Priority areas for investigation and action arising from the second Atlas include use of:
- Hysterectomy and endometrial ablation
- Chronic conditions (COPD, diabetes complications)
- Knee replacement.
Additional priorities for investigation and action are hospitalisation rates for specific populations with chronic conditions and cardiovascular conditions, particularly:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
- People living in remote areas
- People at most socioeconomic disadvantage.
Healthcare Variation – what does it tell us
Some variation is expected and associated with need-related factors such as underlying differences in the health of specific populations, or personal preferences. However, the weight of evidence in Australia and internationally suggests that much of the variation documented in the Atlas is likely to be unwarranted. Understanding this variation is critical to improving the quality, value and appropriateness of health care.
View the second Atlas
The second Atlas, released in June 2017, examined four clinical themes: chronic disease and infection – potentially preventable hospitalisations, cardiovascular, women’s health and maternity, and surgical interventions.
Key findings and recommendations for action are available here.
View the maps and download the data using the interactive platform.
What does the Atlas measure?
The second Atlas shows rates of use of healthcare interventions (hospitalisations, surgical procedures and complications,) in geographical areas across Australia. The rate is then age and sex standardised to allow comparisons between populations with different age and sex structures. All rates are based on the patient’s place of residence, not the location of the hospital or health service.
The second Atlas uses data from national databases to explore variation across different healthcare settings. These included the National Hospital Morbidity Database and the AIHW National Perinatal Data Collection.
Who has developed the second Atlas?
The Commission worked with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) on the second Atlas.
The Commission consulted widely with the Australian government, state and territory governments, specialist medical colleges, clinicians and consumer representatives to develop the second Atlas.
Features of the second Atlas include:
- Greater involvement of clinicians during all stages of development
- Analysis of data by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status
- Analysis of data by patient funding status (public or private).
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Chronic disease and infection: potentially preventable hospitalisations
1.1 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
1.2 Heart failure
1.3 Cellulitis
1.4 Kidney and urinary tract infections
1.5 Diabetes complications
Chapter 2 Cardiovascular conditions
2.1 Acute myocardial infarction admissions
2.2 Atrial fibrillation
Chapter 3 Women’s health and maternity
3.1 Hysterectomy
3.2 Endometrial ablation
3.3 Cervical loop excision or cervical laser ablation
3.4 Caesarean section, ages 20 to 34 years
3.5 Third- and fourth-degree perineal tear
Chapter 4 Surgical interventions
4.1 Knee replacement
4.2 Lumbar spinal decompression
4.3 Lumbar spinal fusion
4.4 Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
4.5 Appendicectomy
4.6 Cataract surgery
Technical Supplement
About the Atlas
Glossary
Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation data set specifications are available at http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/674758