Data on health system performance in rural Australia paint a
mixed picture, according to a report released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The report, Rural, regional and remote health: indicators of
health system performance, found hospitalisation rates were up
to 55% higher for people living in remote areas than for people
living in major cities.
It also found that rates for several common medical procedures
were lower for people living in remote areas than for those living
in major cities.
'Examples include medical procedures for heart disease
management, such as coronary artery bypass graft,' said report
author Sally Bullock.
'This finding is particularly noteworthy as death rates from
coronary heart disease were up to 40% higher in remote areas
compared to cities,' she said.
In general, the number of medical specialists and dentists per
head of population decreased with remoteness, but their working
hours increased.
On the other hand, the supply of nurses and primary care doctors
was more evenly spread across regions.
'Another interesting finding was that people with disability
living outside major cities were significantly less likely to
access disability support services than those living within major
cities,' Ms Bullock said.
This report is based on the Rural Health Information Framework,
which was established to help understand and to monitor the health
of regional and remote populations.
The framework has three dimensions: health status and outcomes,
health determinants, and health system performance. This report
relates specifically to health system performance.
A complementary report focusing on indicators of health status
and determinants of health was published in March 2008.
Friday 19 September 2008
Further information: Ms Sally Bullock, AIHW, 02
6244 1008, mob. 0407 915 851
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for the availability of Rural, regional and
remote health: indicators of health system
performance.