Aim :

The Australian Primary Collaborative Program is a three-year (2005-2007) initiative funded by the Improvement Foundation to support Australian General Practices to deliver systematic and sustainable improvement in primary care.

Currently, the program addresses the following focus areas:

- Diabetes
- Secondary Prevention of Cornonary Heart Disease (CHD)
- Better Access for patients to primary care

A collaborative is an improvement method that relies on the distribution and adaptation of existing knowledge to multiple settings to achieve a common aim. A collaborative is based on the quality improvement principles of PLAN-DO-STUDY-ACT. It uses rapid cycles of testing and measuring the effects of small change ideas to drive and build sustainable improvement.

This methodology works because it is straightforward, there is hands-on support, and the framework promotes protected time for participants to spend as a team solving problems.

The model was originally designed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in the US and has already successfully delivered improvements in care for patients with Asthma, Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease and Cancer in the primary health care setting in the US, UK and Europe.

487 practices have taken part in the program nationally with 5 of them being from the Limestone Coast Division of General Practice.

Project Officer : Noelynn Mason