Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for Aboriginal people

• Reach:

  SA

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

The Managing two worlds together project aims to add to existing knowledge of what works well and what needs improvement in the system of care for Indigenous patients from rural and remote areas of SA (and parts of the NT). It explores their complex patient journeys and what happens when they come to Adelaide for hospital care.

The relationship between patients and health care providers is the foundation of care and requires communication across cultures, geography and life experiences. As a staff member in one rural Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service put it: 'It's like managing two worlds together, it doesn't always work'.

Stage 1 of the project focuses on the problems. Four studies were conducted and are reported in six documents:

• Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for country Aboriginal people project report
• Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for country Aboriginal people community summary
• Managing two worlds together: study 1-report on admissions and costs
• Managing two worlds together: study 2-staff perspectives on care for country Aboriginal patients
• Managing two worlds together: study 3-the experiences of patients and their carers
• Managing two worlds together: study 4-complex country Aboriginal patient journeys.

Stage 2 will focus on solutions and will consist of a small set of action research projects. During 2012 the research team will work with partner organisations in this study to develop and/or document the implementation of strategies to improve the health care journeys for country Indigenous patients, based on existing good practice and on the findings of Stage 1.

Abstract adapted from Flinders University

Contacts

Janet Kelly
Research Associate
Flinders University
Ph: (08) 8201 7765
Email: janet.kelly@flinders.edu.au

Related publications

Glover J, Freeman M (2011)

Managing two worlds together: study 1 - report on admissions and costs.

Melbourne: Lowitja Institute

• Links
• View report: Managing two worlds together: study 1 - report on admissions and costs (PDF - 1.1 MB)
• View information: Managing two worlds together: study 1 - report on admissions and costs
• View website: The Lowitja Institute

Dwyer J, Kelly J, Willis E, Glover J, Mackean T, Pekarsky B, Battersby M (2011)

Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for country Aboriginal people - community summary.

Melbourne: The Lowitja Institute

• Links
• View report: Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for country Aboriginal people - community summary (PDF - 514.3 KB)
• View information: Managing Two Worlds Together project
• View information: Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for country Aboriginal people - community summary
• View website: The Lowitja Institute

Kelly J, Pekarsky B, Dwyer J, Mackean T, Willis E, Glover J, Battersby M (2011)

Managing two worlds together: study 4 - complex country Aboriginal patient journeys.

Melbourne: The Lowitja Institute

• Links
• View abstract: Managing two worlds together: study 4 - complex country Aboriginal patient journeys
• View report: Managing two worlds together: study 4 - complex country Aboriginal patient journeys (PDF - 1.3 MB)
• View information: Managing Two Worlds Together project
• View website: The Lowitja Institute

Kelly J, Dwyer J, Mackean T, Willis E, O’Donnell K, Battersby M, Pekarsky B (2011)

Managing two worlds together: study 3 - the experiences of patients and their carers.

Melbourne: The Lowitja Institute

• Links
• View report: Managing two worlds together: study 3 - the experiences of patients and their carers
• View report: Managing two worlds together: study 3 - the experiences of patients and their carers (PDF - 1.5 MB)
• View information: Managing Two Worlds Together project
• View website: The Lowitja Institute

Dwyer J, Kelly J, Willis E, Mackean T, Battersby M, Pekarsky B, Glover J (2011)

Managing two worlds together: study 2 - staff perspectives on care for country Aboriginal patients.

Melbourne: The Lowitja Institute

• Links
• View report: Managing two worlds together: study 2 - staff perspectives on care for country Aboriginal patients (PDF - 1.5 MB)
• View information: Managing Two Worlds Together project
• View information: Managing two worlds together: study 2 - staff perspectives on care for country Aboriginal patients [summary]
• View website: The Lowitja Institute

Dwyer J, Kelly J, Willis E, Glover J, Mackean T, Pekarsky B, Battersby M (2011)

Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for country Aboriginal people - project report.

Melbourne: The Lowitja Institute

• Links
• View report: Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for country Aboriginal people - project report (PDF - 1.1 MB)
• View information: Managing Two Worlds Together project
• View information: Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for country Aboriginal people - project report
• View website: The Lowitja Institute

Kelly J, Dwyer J, Pekarsky B, Mackean T, Willis E, Battersby M, Glover J (2012)

Managing two worlds together: stage 2 - patient journey mapping tools.

Melbourne: The Lowitja Institute

This paper describes the patient journey mapping tool and frameworks used in the Managing two worlds together (MTWT) project. Through interviews and focus groups with patients, their carer/family, and health care providers, the paper explores the barriers and enablers, gaps and strategies in relation to the journeys of country Aboriginal patients from rural and remote locations to city hospitals and their return. The primary aim of the MTWT project is to enhance existing knowledge of the strengths, and areas of improvement, in the care of Aboriginal patients from rural and remote areas of South Australia by exploring what happens when they come to Adelaide for hospital care. The project is comprised of two stages, with Stage 1 focusing on the problems, and Stage 2 focusing on solutions. The patient journey mapping tools are the first output of Stage 2.

Abstract adapted from Managing two worlds together: stage 2 - patient journey mapping tools

• Links
• View report: Managing two worlds together: stage 2 - patient journey mapping tools (PDF - 1.1 MB)
• View information: Managing two worlds together: stage 2 - patient journey mapping tools
• View information: Patient Journey Mapping Tools
• View website: The Lowitja Institute

Links

• View information: Managing two worlds together: city hospital care for Aboriginal people