![]() ![]() 2 In New South Wales (NSW), Australia’s most populous state, the public health response was highly effective in controlling the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors enabled relative success in managing COVID-19, reflected in a low death rate per million people, high ratios of tests per confirmed cases, and a stringent government response during August 2020 when cases in Melbourne were dramatically increasing. 1 Australia’s response to COVID-19 was unlike many other countries due to the rapid public health and policy response and the relatively low number of cases. These changes were underpinned by the principles of equity of healthcare delivery, holistic and integrated models of care, and supporting the wellbeing of the workforce.Īustralia’s swift response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has flattened the curve of the number of cases reported and resulted in over 15 million COVID-19 tests undertaken. Ultimately, our analysis identified many elements that enabled Australia’s health system to respond to the pandemic, including the restructuring of health systems to manage COVID-19, the rapid uptake of telehealth, and the ability to dedicate funding specifically to the response. This success enabled embedded research to be conducted without impeding the health system infrastructure and personnel during the crisis. SCHN’s resilience was enabled by innovation fostered through a non-hierarchical governance structure and responsiveness to emerging challenges balanced with a singular vision.Ĭonclusion: Using the CSSF, we found that SCHN’s ability to innovate was key to ensuring its resilience during the pandemic.īy identifying the core values underpinning behaviour and the governance principles stewarding change, we can determine how one health system’s response compares to others.Īustralia’s swift response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a relative success due to its rapid public health and policy response and a relatively low number of cases. The health system values that shaped SCHN’s response to the pandemic included principles of equity of healthcare delivery, holistic and integrated models of care, and supporting workforce wellbeing. Responses included a COVID-19 assessment clinic, inpatient and infectious disease management services, redeploying and managing a workforce working from home, cohesive communication initiatives, and remote delivery of care, all enabled by a dedicated COVID-19 fund. Results: The CSSF captured SCHN’s complex response to the pandemic. We also reviewed clinic and policy documents pertinent to SCHN’s response to COVID-19 and conducted interviews and focus groups with stakeholders, including clinical directors, project managers, frontline clinicians, and other personnel involved in implementing innovations across SCHN. ![]() An embedded field researcher shadowed members of the emergency operations centre (EOC) for nine months. Methods: We used ethnographic methods, guided by the CSSF, to map innovations and initiatives implemented across SCHN during the pandemic. This framework enabled us to assess innovations and changes created through COVID-19 at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN), the largest provider of children’s health services in the Southern hemisphere. We adapted the Hanefeld et al framework for health systems shocks to create the COVID-19 System Shock Framework (CSSF). The experience in Australia presents an opportunity to study contrasting responses to the COVID-19 health system shock. Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in over 2 million deaths globally.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |