Process for improving the integration of care across the primary and acute care settings in rural South Australia: asthma as a case study.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a process for improving the integration of care across the rural acute and primary care settings using asthma as a case study.

METHODS

Development of the process on the analysis of case note audit, survey, interviews and a workshop.

SETTING

A rural region of South Australia.

RESULTS

A work plan for improving general practitioner (GP)-hospital integration was developed that resulted from analysis of the defined problem, GPs and stakeholder involvement, communication between all stakeholders, provision of an incentive to bring all the stakeholders together, and identification of evidence-based solutions.

CONCLUSIONS

Managing chronic disease in a community requires the integration of care across the primary and acute care setting. To be successful, GP-hospital integration initiatives require stakeholder involvement, locally developed solutions, engagement of GPs, communication and a well-developed plan. This project provides a process for achieving this.