AU stroke patients are continuing to suffer as a result of inconsistent care
Australian stroke patients are continuing to suffer as a result of inconsistent care, according to a new data released today.
The Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation highlighted the time stroke patients spent in hospital accessing ongoing, acute services varied greatly depending on where people lived. National Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Erin Lalor said the report further highlighted the vital need for Federal Government leadership to improve the delivery of stroke services.
“There is a role for the Federal Government to ensure all patients have access to the highest quality evidence based care in line with the new Acute Stroke Clinical Care Standard and the Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management,’’ Dr Lalor said.
“Australians will suffer more than 50,000 strokes this year and all of us need and deserve access to the best practice care to maximize outcomes reducing death and disability.
“We welcome the Atlas and its recommendations to improve consistency of care across the country.”
The Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation looked at data from admissions for stroke patients aged 65 years and over in major and large public hospitals. Its findings can be found here
The Atlas recommendations included:
- Hospital and ambulance services ensure patients have access to care that aligns with the Acute Stroke Clinical Care Standard.
- State and territory health departments consider mechanisms to improve coding, analytics and collection of outcome data for stroke.
- Relevant clinical colleges ensure educational and training material, as well as continuing professional development requirements, are in keeping with the Acute Stroke Clinical Care Standard.
Dr Lalor said while the report recommended State and Territory health departments consider mechanisms improve data collection and analytics in stroke, the National Stroke Foundation encouraged the Federal Government to also be part of the solution.
“This responsibility cannot rest with the states and territories alone. Federal Government investment is also required to support consistent and regular monitoring of to drive continuous quality improvement,’’ she said.
“Regular monitoring of stroke care will ensure quality improvement efforts are focused on the areas of greatest need.”
The Atlas report will be built on by a more detailed audit of acute stroke care in Australian hospitals to be released by the National Stroke Foundation next week. The report will track the performance of Australia’s Stroke Care against the Acute Services Framework 2015 and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Acute Stroke Clinical Care Standard 2015. Clinicians, heath administrators and governments alike will utilise this data to further review stroke services and clinical care in order to ensure less variation in care and better outcomes for stroke patients.