Process for improving the integration of care across the primary and acute care settings in rural South Australia: asthma as a case study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To develop a process for improving the integration of care across the rural acute and primary care settings using asthma as a case study. METHODS: Development of the process on the analysis of case note audit, survey, interviews and a workshop. SETTING: A rural region of South Australia. RESULTS: A work plan for improving general practitioner (GP)–hospital integration was developed that resulted from analysis of the defined problem, GPs and stakeholder involvement, communication between all stakeholders, provision of an incentive to bring all the stakeholders together, and identification of evidence-based solutions. CONCLUSIONS: Managing chronic disease in a community requires the integration of care across the primary and acute care setting. To be successful, GP–hospital integration initiatives require stakeholder involvement, locally developed solutions, engagement of GPs, communication and a well-developed plan. This project provides a process for achieving this. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The present study outlines a process to improve the management of asthma for a specific community group in a rural region. It also provides a process to improve GP–hospital integration, which can be applied to a range of settings and health conditions to improve patient care.