Findings

This chart shows the number of nominated strategies within The Challenge that LHDs are working on, and their Challenge sign-up status and progress as at October 2015. Overall participation rate for The Challenge is high. In this period, 14 (out of 15) NSW Local Health Districts (LHDs), and 2 (out of 3) Speciality Networks formally signed up to The Patient Based Care Challenge including identified key areas of focus. The CEC supports the health services to implement priority strategies selected. Where there are gaps, and continues to work with those LHDs that are not yet formally signed up to progress patient based care.

Implications

The majority of NSW Local Health Districts (LHDs) have formally signed up to The Patient Based Care Challenge. The increasing uptake of challenge strategies shows a firm commitment by LHDs to including patients and family as care team members, and improving consumer engagement to promote safety &quality in health care. LHDs formally signed up to The Challenge can expect to see in the long-term improved patient experience of care, medical compliance, clinical outcomes, continuity of care, decreased lengths of stay and reduction in medication errors.

What we don't know

Evidence of impact of organisation wide approaches to patient based care is largely international, with increasing uptake throughout NSW. Whilst many health services are implementing patient focussed strategies, it may be a number of years (based on international experience) before flow-on impact is seen. Some evidence of impact in NSW is emerging. The Quality Systems Audit (QSA) conducted by CEC has indicated recent improvement in staff considering patient and family as integral members of the health care team. Research within the Directorate of Patient Based Care published in the BMJ[1] provides evidence of elements of the program that are most effective. Accreditation status of health services particularly for the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard 2 - Partnering with Consumers - may also provide evidence of impact. The CEC will continue to monitor progress and impact of patient based care strategies with health services.

References

[1] Luxford K, Newell S. New South Wales mounts "patient based care" challenge. BMJ 2015;350:g7582.

Number of strategies nominated within the PBC Challenge, by LHD/SN and time

End Matter

Contributors
CEC Patient Based Care Directorate
Data analysis by: CEC eChartbook team
Reviewed by: CEC Patient Based Care Directorate
Edited by: CEC eChartbook team

Suggested citation
Clinical Excellence Commission [2012]. eChartbook Portal: Safety and Quality of Healthcare in New South Wales. Sydney: Clinical Excellence Commission. Available at: http://www.cec.health.nsw.gov.au/echartbook/cec-indicators-intro-chartbook/cec-indicators-patient-based-care Accessed (insert date of web access).

© Clinical Excellence Commission 2015
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC). Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the Director, Corporate Services, Locked Bag 8, Haymarket, NSW 1240.

Evidence-base for this initiative

Reported elsewhere
Luxford K, Newell S. New South Wales mounts "patient based care" challenge. BMJ 2015;350:g7582.

Definitions