A quality partnership: closing the gaps between hospital and the community.

Queensland Health is trialling an integrated package of projects aimed at reducing lengths of stay in public hospitals, providing continuity and quality of care from admission to an acute-care facility through to the completion of the episode in the community. Service gaps and reasons for delayed discharge are identified; funds are provided for the purchase of care for individual patients/clients; and the interface between hospital and community is co-ordinated. Multi-disciplinary teams, including the patient's own general practitioner, co-operate in the referral process for the provision of care within the community. Clinical nurse consultants monitor quality aspects from the community perspective. Implementation has been approached in different ways, at different sites. Education of key players is an important variable in the success of the project.