Differences Between Metropolitan and Country Public Hospital Allied Health Services

Abstract

This paper compares patient and episode characteristics in allied health services delivered in country and metropolitan hospitals. Eight public hospitals (46 allied health services) participated in the study (three country and five metropolitan sites, situated in South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania). Standardised rates of patient throughput were similar for country and metropolitan allied health services, despite smaller numbers of country staff providing services to larger geographical areas. Although the differences were not significant, country patients were generally older and had more chronic conditions than metropolitan patients. Fewer country patients than metropolitan patients were eligible for rebates in the private sector. In addition, fewer alternative services were available in country communities, which heightened the role of the public hospital outpatients services within the community. This paper provides an argument for similar funding arrangements for country and metropolitan ambulatory allied health services.

Professional support in rural New South Wales: Perceptions of new graduate occupational therapists

“…Three of the study participants were in sole therapy positions. Isolation is a concern for these new graduate therapists, who have limited opportunities to pool ideas, offer mutual support or share resources with other occupational therapists 7,19 . These participants described difficulties establishing their professional identity without professional support and the pressures of having to promote the occupational therapy role to other team members when they were not feeling confident.…”

A cross-sectional study of clinical management, and provision of health services and their utilisation, by patients with Parkinson’s disease in urban and regional Victoria

“…6 A combination of specialised medical care, dopamine replacement medications and physical therapies is required to optimise management for all patients with PD. 4,[7][8][9] However, access to this range of health services can vary substantially between different populations 10,11 and is especially difficult in regional Australia. 2,11 Australian regional populations are typically spread across great distances and are often far from urban centres where medical specialist centres are concentrated.…”

“…4,[7][8][9] However, access to this range of health services can vary substantially between different populations 10,11 and is especially difficult in regional Australia. 2,11 Australian regional populations are typically spread across great distances and are often far from urban centres where medical specialist centres are concentrated. There is a paucity of information about the availability and utilisation of health services in different parts of Australia, particularly considering disease specific needs for patients with chronic neurological disorders in regional and urban centres.…”

Occupational therapy services for adult neurological clients in Queensland and therapists’ use of telehealth to provide services

“…When telehealth is used for remote consultations, benefits for health professionals can include less travel time and consequently more time for other duties, and the reduced need to travel in poor weather (Aas, 2002). As rural and remote clients typically have to travel further for their health care than metropolitan clients and incur inconveniences and higher travel and opportunity costs (such as lost time at work) as a result (Grimmer & Bowman, 1998), remote consultations may be valuable in reducing these costs and inconveniences.…”