System Change
Designing complex health systems
Health services are complex, and planning the most effective use of limited resources requires evidence-based system design.
Health services planning should draw upon a variety of data sources on system capacity, service needs and staffing resources to ensure a sustainable health service, given the patchy and often uncertain funding of the sector. Every new health services venture should be guided by a clear model for the future.
360Edge delivers specialist expertise in healthcare planning, with a key focus on working within budgetary constraints and ensuring service needs are met as efficiently as possible. We utilise best practice approaches to complex logistics and health systems analysis.
Case study: Primary Health Tasmania
Investment in the alcohol and other drugs sector in Tasmania
In response to a 2015 review of alcohol and drug use in northwest Tasmania, the Tasmanian Government engaged Siggins Miller to conduct a treatment system review. The resulting 2017 report identified key actions for sector reform and guided the 2020 Reform Agenda for the Alcohol and Other Drugs Sector. In 2022, Primary Health Tasmania and the Department of Health Tasmania engaged 360Edge to update the 2017 report to inform ongoing reforms.
Mapping investment
PHN Queensland
We conducted a statewide mapping of investment in alcohol and other drug treatment services across the seven Queensland PHNs. The project was the first step to improving planning and coordination between funders across the state and delivering best practice approaches to service commissioning.
We mapped alcohol and other drug investments by major funders across Queensland and carried out extensive consultations with service providers and funders to capture key insights on commissioning and reporting processes.
We found that despite being a relatively new player in the alcohol and other drug commissioning space, PHNs contribute a significant proportion of alcohol and other drug funding. PHN commissioning was seen as advantageous in responding to local needs, which could be further supported by effective contract management, focused reporting, best practice planning, and advocacy to government on behalf of services.
PHN Eastern Melbourne
Eastern Melbourne PHN engaged 360Edge in preparation for a new commissioning process to provide a range of alcohol and other drug services that complement and enhance existing local services.
The project involved a detailed needs and gaps analysis using extensive health services data for the region and a detailed and in depth codesign process with the sector to develop a new model to enhance alcohol and other drug service delivery. We undertook consultation workshops with over 150 sector managers, workers, and consumers, and engaged other groups through an online consultation process.
We identified three key service priority areas to inform commissioning – ensuring holistic care that takes all of a person’s needs into consideration; promoting integration and access, particularly among underserviced populations; and meeting the needs of families and carers.
Case Study: Murray PHN
Improving linkages between primary care and alcohol and drug services
This project was looking to improve the collaboration between the primary care and specialist alcohol and drug sector and improve the quality of information resources for primary health care. It consisted of three main parts: First was a review and update of the online Health Pathways resource; second was consultation with the sector to look at barriers and enablers to linkage facilitation; and third,was the development of enhanced referral pathways between primary health care and specialist alcohol and drug services.
