COORDINATION OF HEALTH CARE


The coordination of a person's health care is an important factor in ensuring the best possible health outcomes. This is particularly true for those people who see several health professionals for the same health condition. Ensuring the correct information is passed between health professionals will help minimise errors and limit the possibility for symptoms to be overlooked. The coordination of health care assists a person to access the full range of services they need to treat their health condition.

In 2014-15, one in six people aged 15 years and over (18%) saw three or more health professionals for the same condition. This was an increase from 2013-14, when around 16% saw three or more health professionals for the same condition. Females were more likely than males to have seen three or more health professionals for the same condition (21% compared with 15%). (See Tables 22 and 23.2 in Downloads.) While the rates for males were similar in both 2013-14 and 2014-15, the rates of females who saw three or more health professionals for the same condition increased in this period from 18% in 2013-14 to 21% in 2014-15.

The proportion of people who saw three or more health professionals for the same condition generally increased with age. Around one in four people (24%) aged 65 years and over had seen three or more health professionals for the same condition, compared with one in seven (16%) people aged 15-64 years. People with a long term health condition were more likely to have seen three or more health professionals for the same condition than those without (28% compared with 8%). (See Table 24.2 in Downloads.) These patterns were similar in both 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Of those who saw three or more health professionals for the same condition, nearly three in four (71%) reported that a health professional helped coordinate their care. This was an increase from 2013-14, when around 69% reported that a health professional helped coordinate their care. For these people, a GP was most likely to coordinate care (59%), followed by a medical specialist (25%). Of those who received coordination of care, most reported that it was helpful, either to a large extent (72%) or to some extent (24%). (See Table 22 in Downloads.) These patterns were similar in both 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Among those who saw three or more health professionals for the same condition, 13% reported that there were issues caused by a lack of communication between the health professionals. Those with a long term health condition were more likely than those without to report issues caused by a lack of communication between health professionals (14% compared with 9%). (See Table 24.2 in Downloads.) These rates were similar in 2013-14. Those living in outer regional, remote or very remote areas were more likely to report having issues caused by a lack of communication between health professionals than those living in major cities (16% compared with 12%). See Table 24.2 in Downloads.