Coproducing Aboriginal patient journey mapping tools for improved quality and coordination of care

Abstract

This paper describes the rationale and process for developing a set of Aboriginal patient journey mapping tools with Aboriginal patients, health professionals, support workers, educators and researchers in the Managing Two Worlds Together project between 2008 and 2015. Aboriginal patients and their families from rural and remote areas, and healthcare providers in urban, rural and remote settings, shared their perceptions of the barriers and enablers to quality care in interviews and focus groups, and individual patient journey case studies were documented. Data were thematically analysed. In the absence of suitable existing tools, a new analytical framework and mapping approach was developed. The utility of the tools in other settings was then tested with health professionals, and the tools were further modified for use in quality improvement in health and education settings in South Australia and the Northern Territory. A central set of patient journey mapping tools with flexible adaptations, a workbook, and five sets of case studies describing how staff adapted and used the tools at different sites are available for wider use.

Rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy: How can health services adapt to the needs of Indigenous women? A qualitative study

“…Patient journey modelling of cardiac and maternity care for Aboriginal patients has increased our understanding of the gaps and actions required to improve complex health care. [27][28][29]…”

Are general practitioners getting the information they need from hospitals and specialists to provide quality cancer care for Indigenous Australians?

“…24,56,57 The use of electronic records, 54,58 GP participating in multidisciplinary team meetings, 59 the use of patient journey mapping tools, 60 and of Patient Navigators and/or Cancer Care Coordinators 54,61 have been put forward as practical strategies to improve communication between GP and hospital-based services and assist patients to transition better from hospital to community health services. Deficits in communication and information transfer between hospitalbased specialists and GP may adversely affect patient care.…”

“…Ensuring that transfer of relevant patient information from hospital-based specialists to GP occurs in a timely matter is essential to improve the coordination and continuity of care. 24,56,57 The use of electronic records, 54,58 GP participating in multidisciplinary team meetings, 59 the use of patient journey mapping tools, 60 and of Patient Navigators and/or Cancer Care Coordinators 54,61 have been put forward as practical strategies to improve communication between GP and hospital-based services and assist patients to transition better from hospital to community health services. Guidelines for HDS could improve quality and consistency of content for the purpose of promoting quality of cancer care in PHC.…”

Understanding burn injuries in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: protocol for a prospective cohort study

“…In order to map patient journey, this study will utilise the Managing Two Worlds Together, Patient Journey Mapping Tool. 31 Case study methodology will be used to map the actual patient journey of three Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children as they access health services following burn injury. The participants will be drawn from the overarching study.…”

“…The story will be written using Emden's core story creation narrative analysis and will use the relevant mapping tools as described in the Journey Mapping Tool. 31 In order to map and describe the provision of care in health services enacted by health professionals, lead burn clinicians at each of the leading burn units in Australia will be consulted. During on-site consultation and observations, the lead burn clinicians will be asked in semistructured interviews to provide a description of typical patient burn care and pathways followed on presentation of a client with a burn injury.…”