Foundations of Australian Healthcare System: Elderly Care Report

This report analyzes the challenges facing the Australian healthcare system in providing care for the growing elderly population, particularly concerning chronic diseases and accessibility to services. It highlights issues such as high healthcare costs, transportation difficulties, ageist attitudes, and long waiting times. The proposed solution involves establishing "Centres Promoting Health Independence" within communities to coordinate care, provide diagnostic and therapeutic services, and educate the elderly on managing their health. The report discusses the Australian healthcare system's structure, including Medicare and private health insurance, and emphasizes the need for integrated care and electronic health records. It also addresses funding models and the importance of community and academic partnerships to support these centers. The report concludes with lessons learned, emphasizing the need for policy interventions to improve access and reduce healthcare costs for older Australians.

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AUSTRALIAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND THE CHALLENGE BRIEF
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Challenge
A significant challenge affecting the Australian healthcare system is the growth in the elderly
population and the increase in chronic diseases among the people. According to de Carvalho
et al. (2017), as the population continues to age, they tend to experience more complex and
chronic health problems. They are also at risk of multi-morbidity, non-communicable health
problems, and sensory, physical and cognitive impairments. De Carvalho et al. (2017) the
essential barriers that prevent older people from accessing healthcare even in situations where
they are available to include the high cost of healthcare visits and transportation challenges.
Additionally, healthcare services often fail to consider the physical capacity limitations that
may affect older people. Ageist attitudes and long waiting times also prevent older people
from seeking medical services.
The access to healthcare services by the older population in Australia has significant
implications in the Australian healthcare system, particularly in the provision of the services
they need. There is a gap in the ability of the healthcare system to manage serious illnesses,
enhance the wellbeing and health, and support the elderly population to achieve dependency
(van Gaans & Dent, 2018). Therefore, there is a growing pressure on the healthcare system to
realize reforms that can promote increased access to older people within the community
settings who live with chronic healthcare conditions.
Proposed Solution
The challenge of accessibility of integrated healthcare services among the older people in
Australia can be addresses through the establishment of Centres Promoting Health
Independence that support. The centres can be established within the communities with the
highest population of older people, particularly in the rural areas where older people live. The
centres can be instrumental in coordinating and providing adequate information and care to
older people to reduce delays and promote a smooth continuum of care. They can also

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provide diagnostic and therapeutic care for older people to help them manage chronic
conditions.
Aspects of Australian Healthcare Systems
The Australian federal government has made efforts to enhance the integration of healthcare
services to increase access to older people within their community. For instance, it has
established the ‘ageing in place’ policy with a focus on maintaining the older people within
their community, while reducing the incidences of hospitalization, admission to care services
for the aged and morbidity. Consequently, the aged population can access support and live in
the places of their choice (van Gaans & Dent, 2018). However, the system has variously
attributed that influence the realization of integration and accessibility while addressing the
challenges affecting older people.
According to Dixit and Sambasivan (2018), the Australian healthcare system is experiencing
intense pressure arising from the increased changes in patients’ needs and expectations,
increased cost and demand for healthcare, the complexity of healthcare conditions, inequities
and the pressure for outcome improvements. The inefficiencies that affect the system include
workforce shortages, limited resources, and increased demand for healthcare. McPake and
Mahal (2017) explained that the Australian health system is characterized by two tiers which
include Medicare, a universal tier that is publicly funded, and a voluntary of subsidized health
insurance tier that covers `non-general practitioners and private hospital care. Primary care is
financed through Medicare and out of pocket payments from the consumers. Private health
insurance is restricted from funding primary care services. The system is also characterized
by an optional electronic healthcare record that aims to enable healthcare professionals to
access healthcare information and allow for consumers to share their knowledge with the
healthcare providers (Tomlinson 2019).
Implementation of Proposed Strategies

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According to the report by the World Health Organization (2015), there is a growing need for
comprehensive reforms in the healthcare systems to enhance clinical care for the elderly
population. The centres’ operations can be sustained and supported through protocols and
agreements between healthcare service providers, academic institutions offering healthcare
programs and community caregivers. The management of the care settings should be
designated to uphold an integrated approach incorporating healthcare service providers,
students in the medical field, and community caregivers to enhance the management of
chronic conditions that affect older people in community settings.
Another essential strategy is educating the older people on the importance of my health
record and ensuring that they have adopted it. The electronic health records will help them
access information and advice from healthcare professionals at the comfort of their
residences; hence addressing the challenge of transportation.
Concerning funding, policymakers should consider listing the care centres under primary
care, which receives funding from Medicare. This way, the cost of healthcare will not hinder
older people from seeking medical healthcare. With the adequate and comprehensive
management of the centres, it is essential for the adequate management and funding,
education and awareness.
Summary of the Proposed Solution
The proposed solution to enhance accessibility of healthcare services to older people is the
establishment of Centres Promoting Health Independence. The centres will ensure that older
people can access therapeutic services, specialized diagnostic care, and rehabilitation services
in facilities within their reach. The centres can enhance optimal inpatient care and reduced
waiting time. They can also access individual intervention programs such as sub-acute
community-based services and post-acute care program in a single point.
Lessons Learnt

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The important lessons from the challenge brief are the significant implications that the
increased population of the elderly population poses on the Australian healthcare systems.
The increased pressure results in new challenges including increasing cost of healthcare,
increased demand for services and workforce challenges. These challenges can be addressed
at the policy level. Successful interventions should focus on enhancing access to healthcare
and reduced cost for older citizens.

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References
de Carvalho, I., Epping-Jordan, J., Pot, A. M., Kelley, E., Toro, N., Thiyagarajan, J. A., &
Beard, J. R. 2017, ‘Organizing integrated health-care services to meet older people's
needs’, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, vol. 95, no. 11, pp. 756–763.
doi:10.2471/BLT.16.187617
Dixit, S. K., & Sambasivan, M. 2018, ‘A review of the Australian healthcare system: A
policy perspective’, SAGE open medicine, vol. 6. doi:10.1177/2050312118769211
McPake, B., & Mahal, A. 2017, ‘Addressing the needs of an aging population in the health
system: the Australian Case’, Health Systems & Reform, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 236-247.
doi:10.1080/23288604.2017.1358796
Tomlinson, J. 2019, ‘My Health Record implementation in private specialist practice’, The
Medical journal of Australia, vol. 210, pp. S32-S34. doi:10.5694/mja2.50030
van Gaans, D., & Dent, E. (2018). Issues of accessibility to health services by older
Australians: a review. Public health reviews, vol. 39, p. 20. doi:10.1186/s40985-018-
0097-4
World Health Organization. (2015). World report on ageing and health. Retrieved from
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/186463/9789240694811_eng.pdf?
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