Victorian Department of Health’s Post

Some words from Prof. Bola Owolabi, MRCGP MFPH(Hon), FRSPH, Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, NHS England: "It is both instructive and inspiring that the Tackling Health Inequalities Conference, organised by NHS England in partnership with the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM), has quickly become a staple in the calendars of a wide cross-section of healthcare professionals over the course of a few short years. "Awareness continues to increase of the vital importance of ensuring healthcare services are designed and delivered equitably so that everyone – including those who are most vulnerable, seldom-heard, often forgotten and less privileged – benefit optimally and are supported to live long, healthy, and productive lives. "Indeed, this ethos must continue to shape and transform all healthcare services. "Across the NHS, healthcare professionals continue to demonstrate they are keen to play their part in helping to narrow lamentable and persistent gaps in the provision of healthcare services and unequal levels of access and outcomes, which are felt most acutely by those with less and at the lower echelons of the socio-economic ladder. "This burning desire to make meaningful change is a key ingredient behind the success of the Tackling Health Inequalities Conference which offers an important opportunity for stakeholders to unite, engage in thought-provoking and solutions-driven dialogue, share skills, learning and tools, network, build relationships and collaborate across industries. "At NHS England, we are proud to continue the multi-year strategic partnership with the RSM that laid the foundation for this conference. "It supports our mission to realise the NHS Long Term Plan commitment to take stronger action to reduce health inequalities, while ensuring we remain ever mindful that we need to restore NHS services inclusively in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen leadership and accountability. "These are common goals shared with the RSM which is uniquely placed to help reach and connect with the medical sector. "As I mentioned in my speech at the 2024 conference, ‘the answer lies between us’ – a reminder of the vital importance of collaboration in the mission to reduce health inequalities. No single sector, specialty or industry has the answers. We will only get there together. "And so, it is with this same sense of purpose, partnership and zeal, that I look forward to the 2025 Tackling Health Inequalities Conference with its focus on ‘Health is Wealth’." Help change health equity. Join the event: https://lnkd.in/eaXVpuMc Bola's comments are taken from the report Learnings from the Tackling Inequalities Conference 2024. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ekhdqxDb #healthinequalities #tacklinginequalities #healthequity

🌟Alumni Spotlight🌟 Meet Leadership in Practice '17 alum, Andrew Herrera! Before joining Impact Global Health Alliance (Formerly Curamericas Global) in 2009, Andrew was a State Department Ambassador to Qingdao, China. A graduate of East Carolina University, and the University of North Carolina with a Master in Public Health, Andrew also has his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, which he completed all while serving as the full-time Executive Director of Impact Global Health Alliance. In 2020 and 2021, Andrew led the Community Health Worker initiative with the NCDHHS COVID response in NC to reach over 190,000 people with a focus on equity, ensuring communities who need it the most, had access to basic healthcare. Andrew has been awarded the Triangle Business Journal 40 Under 40, the Latino Diamante Award for Health and Sciences and the Triangle Business Journal Health Care Hero award, among others. As the leader of Impact Global Health Alliance since 2013, Andrew is responsible for leading strategic initiatives, development of the Board of Directors and the day-to-day operations of an international Nongovernmental Organization with 42 years of history. 🎤Why did you choose to do an MPH in Leadership in Practice concentration? Leadership in Practice was the perfect blend of theory and practical application. My work involves leading strategic initiatives and overseeing community health programs, and I wanted to strengthen my ability to lead in complex, real-world settings. The concentration provided the leadership tools I needed to apply evidence-based solutions, not just in the field of public health, but in creating sustainable community health systems that improve lives. Additionally, the flexibility of the program allowed me to apply what I was learning directly to my work, creating immediate and impactful changes in the communities we serve. 🎤What are your plans for the future? Moving forward, I’m focused on expanding the reach of Impact Global Health Alliance. Recently, we rebranded to better reflect the global scope of our work, and we are now focused on deepening our partnerships and finding innovative ways to tackle health disparities. My goal is to continue building upon our legacy of saving lives through community-based health systems, while also inviting others—whether as volunteers, advisors, or supporters—to join us in this mission. We need your help; consider joining us as a member of the board, a volunteer from home or going abroad with us. The challenges ahead are great, but I believe that together, we can create a world where no child dies from preventable illnesses. https://lnkd.in/g5A2rgH8

Earlier this year I wrote a perspective piece on Value Based Health Care in the settler-colonial context of Australia's healthcare system for the Australian Health Review. The words came from an increasing frustration at the lack of recognition of the power and cruciality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledges, People and organisations in health system reform spaces. "The ‘modern’ VBHC movement provides an opportunity to not only reform health care towards a more equitable, community-centred system, but to also acknowledge, honour and learn from global Indigenous knowledge, systems and ways of valuing knowing, being and doing. For Australia as a settler-colonial state, efforts to implement VBHC here are doomed to fail until the continued legacy of settler-colonial violence and systemic racism pervading Australia’s healthcare system is acknowledged, addressed and ameliorated." https://lnkd.in/geq9HXy5

New Original Research article in RRH: Experiences and impacts of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure on remote Aboriginal families by Courtney Ryder, Shane D'Angelo, Patrick Sharpe, Tamara Mackean, Nayia Cominos, Julieann Coombes, Keziah Bennett-Brook, Darryl Cameron, Emily Gloede, Shahid Ullah, and Jacqueline Stephens. https://lnkd.in/gmCDubeg The current economic crisis is resulting in more Australian families having to spend more money out of their own pocket for health care, known as out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure (OOPHE). When finances are tight, families forgo food or do not attend medical appointments just to get by, which can worsen chronic conditions. In this Original Research article, the authors explore OOPHE impacts for Aboriginal patients and families living in the Far West of South Australia. #australia #aboriginal #healthcareexpenditure #affordability #publichealth Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Ltd. Flinders University The George Institute for Global Health Far West Community Partnerships UNSW Keziah Bennett-Brook Julieann Coombes Tamara Mackean Nayia Cominos

Cultural Competency in Indigenous Health Care. This article was originally published in 2013, but remains relevant today. We shared an APTN article today that reported Indigenous emergency room visitors leave the hospital without receiving care, at a higher rate than non Indigenous visitors. There is still work to be done! https://hubs.ly/Q02tRbG00

This article highlights one healthcare system's (The Queen's Health System) innovative approach to addressing healthcare disparities among Native Hawaiians by integrating cultural competency and targeting social determinants of health. It serves as a valuable model for other healthcare systems aiming to improve care for vulnerable populations with complex needs. I have identified 3 things that other healthcare systems can adopt to better care for vulnerable patients with complex needs: 1) Cultural Competency: Integrating culturally responsive care frameworks, like the "Kahua Ola" approach, can help address healthcare disparities by respecting and incorporating the cultural perspectives of vulnerable populations. 2) Holistic Care Models: Addressing the social determinants of health—such as poverty and geographic isolation—through holistic care models can improve outcomes for patients with complex needs. 3) Long-term Commitment: Setting long-term goals, as seen with The Queen's Health System's 10-year plan, is crucial for making sustainable changes and improving health equity. Check out the article via the link below to see if you agree with my interpretation. American College of Healthcare Executives https://lnkd.in/gYdP2D-r

Missed out on the Civitas Networks for Health conference this year? We’ve got your back! We’ve covered eight of its biggest sessions, and these final two are ones you can’t miss. Explore the transformative journey of the Indian Health Service as it tackles modernization challenges to better serve 574 tribes across 37 states and discover how partnerships, like those with Walmart, and initiatives in community health aide programs are enhancing care delivery.  https://lnkd.in/egRpy4hb Discover how CRISP - Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients DC’s HIE infrastructure, in collaboration with DCPCA and other local healthcare providers, is advancing whole-person care initiatives across the city. Learn about the Population Navigator and other analytics tools that empower providers to meet clinical and social needs and see how DC is setting a benchmark in integrating cross-sector partnerships to enhance population health.  https://lnkd.in/etqPWB3R

If you have completed the survey back in November 2023, the finalised white paper was published in January 2024. We were pleased to see recognition of health need for health consumers/patients who are homebound. From Executive summary. "Ready access to primary care is a mainstay of Australia’s healthcare system. General Practitioners (GPs) are usually the first point of contact for preventive care, diagnosis, treatment and coordination of services. However, people who are homebound find it difficult to access primary care in a timely manner. This can lead to inappropriate visits to emergency departments, avoidable hospitalisations, untreated health issues and a lack of preventive care.  Brisbane South PHN commissioned this white paper to investigate and articulate the opportunities for better serving the primary care needs of  homebound consumers living in the Brisbane South region.  A series of workshops were held with primary care professionals across the Brisbane South area, along with one-on-one interviews and a survey of  stakeholders to explore barriers and opportunities to improve access by homebound consumers to primary care in the region. Further details can be  found in the Technical Addendum of this report. Being homebound is considered to be a flexible concept falling across a continuum from being preferentially homebound to being physically  confined within the home due to functional, cognitive, social and/or mental health reasons. This study identifies that limited primary care services  are available to homebound individuals, including meeting the distinct needs of the diverse and multicultural communities within the Brisbane South region. Primary care services provided to this group are highly dependent upon the goodwill of individual GPs. The lack of a systematic approach and a clear  standard or model of care, along with supporting funding, has resulted in few practices and GPs providing home-based primary care services. Health system structures, processes and procedures that create barriers to accessing primary care are a mix of funding constraints, limitations in the care model, workforce supply and skills mix, and the tools and technologies to support care delivery." We hope you find the finding interesting. FYI: Health Consumers Queensland Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) Brisbane South PHN Metro South Health Dr Maria Alejandra Pinero de Plaza, PhD Gary Deed Julie Hughes Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik Natalie Eaton-Fitch Breanna Weigel #FHBP #Homebound #HealthNeed #WhitePaper #FHBP #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #MEcfs #Disability #Healthcare #ModelOfCare === Access to primary care for homebound people in the Brisbane South region:  A white paper January 2024 https://lnkd.in/gyrVM7Ja

South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) and EPHA Forge New Partnership to Strengthen Public Health in South-Eastern Europe This MoU marks the beginning of a strategic collaboration aimed at improving public health outcomes and promoting sustainable health systems in the South-Eastern European region. This partnership is rooted in a shared vision of fostering healthier communities through joint initiatives and capacity-building efforts in line with the UN Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs). The MoU was signed by Dr Mira Jovanovski-Dašić, Director of the SEEHN Secretariat, and Dr Milka Sokolović, Director General of EPHA. The agreement formalises a framework for cooperation between the two organisations, including organising joint events, promoting capacity-building activities, and contributing to the achievement of SDG 3—Good Health and Well-being. Dr Mira Jovanovski Dasic highlighted that "this partnership is a critical step towards strengthening health systems in South-Eastern Europe and by joining forces with EPHA, we will be better equipped to address key public health challenges in the region, including promoting equitable access to healthcare, improving health resilience, and advancing health policy reforms." The MoU emphasises collaboration in several key areas, including: - Organising joint public health events and fostering actions aimed at achieving better health outcomes for all; - Promoting institution- and capacity-building projects related to public health, such as healthy environments, health service delivery, and digital health; - Joint contributions to the UN Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages. "We are thrilled to collaborate with SEEHN to drive forward our shared goals of health equity and stronger, more sustainable health systems," said Dr Sokolović. "This partnership allows us to combine our expertise and networks to create lasting positive change in the region, improving health for everyone, especially vulnerable populations." This MoU will serve as a foundation for the two organisations to deepen their partnership over the next two years, with the potential for extension. The collaboration will also aim to facilitate knowledge sharing, support health system reforms, and promote the role of civil society in addressing public health challenges. The first step to advance join efforts shall focus to strengthen Digital Health Literacy for All, in particular vulnerable populations in the South Eastern Europe.

Check out this fantastic article highlighting our efforts to provide #HealthForAll, both locally and globally. 🌍