The Western Australian Record Linkage Project: Population-Based Studies of Health System Utilisation and Outcomes

Funded Activity Summary

Through the unique combination of the WA Record Linkage Project and research expertise applied consistently over a 5 year period, the project will provide information on the health system's performance, which is difficult to obtain in any other way. Five priority themes will be developed: (1) INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH CARE, in particular a better understanding of the effects of social disadvantage, lack of private health cover and living in rural and remote areas on health care access and outcomes. (2) PREVENTABLE INPATIENT TIME through research into the causes of preventable inpatient time and the role of the hospital and general practice in reducing these risks. (3) PROMOTING BEST PRACTICE IN SURGICAL and PROCEDURAL CARE through systematic evaluation of the appropriateness and outcomes of surgical procedures. (4) CLINICAL SAFETY AND POST-IMPLEMENTATION SURVEILLANCE to ensure the safety of new technology. Finally, (5) METHODOLOGIC DEVELOPMENTS to provide better methods of record linkage to evaluate the health system. The project is consistent with priorities set in the National Health Information Development Plan in record linkage and health outcomes, as well as the monitoring of interventions recommended by the Taskforce on Quality in Australian Health Care, and the national agenda given to the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care. The work will examine health system access and outcomes for five of the six focus areas chosen by the Australian health ministers. Moreover, the results will be used to advocate on behalf of vulnerable populations in a country that prides itself on universal access to high quality health services. In view of the relevance of the project to existing priorities, and the unique opportunities afforded by the WA Record Linkage Project, a substantial, beneficial impact on health policy and practice is anticipated, as well as new research methods and findings that will contribute to international knowledge.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2005

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $975,923.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Ophthalmology and optometry not elsewhere classified

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Assessment of surgical procedures and medical technology | Evaluation of safety and adverse events | Health services research in national health priority areas | Health system access and utilisation | Health system outcomes including safety | Inequalities in health services access and outcomes | Locational and social disadvantage | Population-based health services research | Quality of health care | Record linkage and spatial analysis

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