Determining the unit cost of services : a guide for estimating the cost of services funded by the Ryan White Care Act of 1990.

S/N 017-024-01528-8 (GPO)

Census data for community action.

Mode of access: Internet.

A working manual of third party funding sources for community mental health centers /

Originally issued 1978.

California mental health services act, 1971.

Includes in appendix II a copy of the Community Mental Health Services Act, Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, which "is comprised of two acts : the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act and a revised version of the Short-Doyle Act of 1957."

Across the dividing range - bridging the divides: Pharmacy opportunities across the hospital/community and inter-professional divides in rural and remote Australia

Rural and remote areas of Australia offer many opportunities for innovation in healthcare services. Some true healthcare 'network' models based around rural pharmacy can be established and evaluated. The lines between community and hospital pharmacy are often blurred and communication between health professionals enhanced. The blurring divide between hospital and community pharmacy in rural and remote areas has provided significant advances in practice. Projects have been set up to investigate the feasibility of community pharmacists integrating care for patients. These projects take advantage of the dual roles and the enhanced interaction between pharmacists and other health professionals in the bush. Opportunities for provision of clinical services beyond the traditional supply role have been taken in a number of remote communities

Reclaiming Community? From Welfare Society to Welfare State in Australian Catholic Social Thought

Influenced by both conservative and left wing communitarian thinking, current debate about welfare governance in Australia reflects an inflated evaluation of the potential role of the third sector or civil society organisations in the production fo welfare. This paper gives an overview of twentieth century Australian Catholics social thinking about state, market and civil society relations in the production of welfare. It highlights the neglected, historical role of the Catholic Church in promoting a 'welfare society' over a 'welfare state' in Australia. It points to the reasons for the Church's later embrace of the welfare state and suggests that these reasons should make us deeply sceptical of the current communitarian fad.

Electronic patient records: Achieving best practice in information transfer between hospital and community providers - an integration success story

Effective healthcare integration is underpinned by clinical information transfer that is timely, legible and relevant. The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate a method for best practice information exchange. This was achieved based on the generic Mater integration methodology. Using this model the Mater Health Services have increased effective community fax discharge from 34% in 1999 to 86% in 2002. These results were predicated on applied information technology excellence involving the development of the Mater Electronic Health Referral Summary and effective change management methodology, which included addressing issues around patient consent, engaging clinicians, provision of timely and appropriate education and training, executive leadership and commitment and adequate resourcing. The challenge in achieving best practice information transfer is not solely in the technology but also in implementing the change process and engaging clinicians. General practitioners valued the intervention highly. Hospital and community providers now have an inexpensive, effective product for critical information exchange in a timely and relevant manner, enhancing the quality and safety of patient care.

Work activities of occupational therapists in Australian mental health services

The aim of this study was to obtain a profile of occupational therapists’ work activities in contemporary Australian mental health services so as to better understand the specific contribution of this profession. The study also aimed to determine whether or not actual work activity was congruent with the preferred roles of occupational therapists. A cross-sectional survey of 196 occupational therapists working in mental health was conducted. For the purposes of the study, a new instrument was developed that evaluated both actual and preferred work roles in four broad categories: administrative, general clinical skills, specialist clinical skills and community development. Respondents were engaged in a greater proportion of generic than discipline-specific work activities. They reported a preference for higher levels of activity in each of the work categories. These findings suggest that, contrary to some previous reports, not only are occupational therapists in Australia engaged in a broad spectrum of non-specialist mental health work activities, but these activities are mostly congruent with their expectations and wishes.

Periodontal treatment needs in a native island community in Colombia determined with CPITN

Aims: To identify the prevalence and different degrees of periodontal disease in an isolated community (Isla Grande, Colombia) with no dental services and low educational level with the use of CPITN, and to establish periodontal treatment needs in different age groups. Results: Of 116 people examined, 0.9% were in periodontal health (CPITN value 0), 18.1% had gingival bleeding (CPITN value 1), 51.7% had supra or subgingival calculus (CPITN value 2),18.1% presented pockets 3.5-5.0mm deep (CPITN value 3), and 11.2% had pathological pockets of 5.5mm or deeper (CPITN value 4). No clear differences were observed between sexes. Conclusions: This study shows that 81% of the sample has some type of periodontal treatment need, with 69.8% of them requiring periodontal treatment that may be supplied by a hygienist and 11.2% requiring specialised treatment. Implementation of oral health education and oral prevention programmes was recommended to the authorities for this community.

Acceptability and feasibility of a community-based screening programme for melanoma in Australia

The evaluation of a community-based screening programme for melanoma (SkinWatch) in 18 regional communities (total adult population >30 years 63 035) in Queensland, Australia is described. The aim of the SkinWatch programme was to promote whole-body skin screening for melanoma by primary care physicians. The programme included community education, education and support for local medical practitioners and open-access skin screening clinics. Programme delivery was achieved through assistance of local volunteers. All programme activities and resources were recorded for process evaluation. A baseline telephone survey (n = 3110) and a telephone survey four months after programme launch (n = 680) assessed community awareness of the SkinWatch programme and, 37 face-to-face interviews with community members, doctors and community leaders were conducted to assess satisfaction with the programme. A sample of 1043 of 16 383 residents who attended the skin screening clinics provided as part of the programme were interviewed to assess reasons for attending, and positive and negative aspects of SkinWatch programme. Community awareness of the SkinWatch programme increased by over 30% (p < 0.001) within four months of the start of the programme. Interview participants described the SkinWatch programme as a useful service for the communities and 90% stated they would revisit the clinics. A total of 43% of all attendees were over 50 years old, and nearly 50% were men. These findings demonstrate the acceptability and feasibility of a community-based screening programme for melanoma in rural areas. Volunteers were instrumental in increasing community ownership of and involvement in the SkinWatch programme.

The promotion and disruption of community service delivery systems

In this paper, we report data drawn from a larger project on the functioning of the Queensland community service delivery system, particularly that providing services to people with disabilities. Our reasoning for focusing at this level is that, from the service user's perspective, support is derived from the service delivery system, not just individual service providers. Defining the service delivery system as formal services and informal support networks, we undertook interviews and focus groups with service providers in six areas in Queensland: inner urban, outer urban, rural and remote. The period on which we report is one in which considerable reform activity had been undertaken by funding bodies of the Commonwealth and State governments. We report on those factors we identified which promote the integrated functioning of the service delivery system, as well as those factors that disrupt it. We conclude with a brief evaluative analysis of the current status of the system.