Overview of the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions
Question:
Critical review of the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions.
A critical review refers the summarization and evaluation of information and ideas that are presented in different articles, journals, books or policies. Critically reviewing an article or policy helps in expressing the point of view in the light of knowledge that is gained on the subject (Singh 2013). In addition, critiquing a particular text creates provisions for considering both the strengths and weakness of the article under review.
This assignment will involve a critical analysis of the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions, Australia. The primary vision of this policy is to help all Australians live a healthy live through effective management and prevention of chronic health conditions. The framework is an overarching policy document that has been formulated for chronic conditions that sets certain directions and outcomes.
Chronic health disorders are considered as long term health problems globally, and manifest several ongoing effects. The National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions has been developed under the auspice of the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC), and has been led by the Australian Government Department of Health (Hennessy 2017). The policy guides the formulation and implementation of the policies, strategies, services and actions that are required to address the chronic health conditions, the aim of improving health outcomes.
Chronic health conditions refer to human diseases that are persistent or have long-lasting effects (Tinetti, Fried and Boyd 2012). The conditions addressed by the framework include, cancer, cardiovascular disease, substance abuse, diabetes, AIDS, nutrition deficiency, depression, Alzheimer’s disease among many others. Owing to the fact that the burden of chronic diseases has increased over the past decades, this framework focuses on its implementing polices that will reduce the severity of the chronic condition.
The framework focuses on preventing and managing chronic health conditions and intends to involve individuals, families, carers, government and non-governmental organizations, public and the private healthcare sectors.
The major strength of this policy lies in the fact that it intends to improve the health status of all Australians, while reducing healthcare expenditures and ensuring a sustainable care system. Research evidences suggest that poor nutrition and dietary patterns, physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol consumption and change in lifestyle increase the burden of chronic diseases.
Promote health and reduce risk
The policy was accurate in identifying the various behavioral, biomedical, non-modifiable, physical and social and economic factors that determine the health outcomes among Australians. Poor educational attainment and unemployment contribute significantly to poor health outcomes (Virtanen, Janlert and Hammarström 2013). Community based education programs help in engaging members of the community and leads to improvement and enhancement of the quality of life (Awoonor-Williams et al. 2013).
Furthermore, it identified the need for equipping the health workforce, and health literacy using evidence based practices and innovative diagnostic solutions. While, health literacy allows individuals to obtain, and understand relevant health information for accurate decision making, evidence-based public health utilizes evaluation research that emphasizes on effective health interventions (Sørensen et al. 2012).
Chronic Health Disorders and the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions
Partnerships for health
The strengths of this strategy lie in identifying the key stakeholders who are directly able to influence physical, mental and social health of Australians. Stakeholders play an essential role in promoting good health and building a healthy nation (Mohammad Mosadeghra 2013). The strategy adequately identified collaboration between health partners and clear governance for promoting good health status. The focus of the strategy on fostering responsible collaboration is another good practice. Modern health promotion requires effective alliance and collaboration with the internal and external stakeholders (Chakraborty, Bhattacharya and Dobrzykowski 2014). However, one weakness is associated with failure to mention the allocation of responsibility for each stakeholder.
Critical life stages
Identification of maternal and children health and nutrition needs was a correct approach as it contributes significantly to infant mortality reduction. Furthermore, this strategy recognized health impacts of adequate nutrition and breast feeding. Proper nutrition and breastfeeding helps a child to gain adequate proteins, calcium, vitamins and fats (Victora et al. 2016). This priority area also intends to facilitate the transition of young people to adulthood and reduce the rates of peer pressure, alcohol and substance abuse. Research evidences state that addiction typically occurs during such transition (Iwamoto and Smiler 2013). Thus, the strategic plan area is quite well formulated.
This part of the framework correctly focused on incorporating regular health checkups, risk assessments and diagnostic screening programs for identification of chronic disorders. This is strength, as use of innovative diagnostic tools help in early detection of diseases, thereby reducing their severity and helps in longer survival (Ventola 2014). However, a mention of the advanced diagnostic tools that will be implemented will help in better health outcomes.
This strategy aims on improving the social and health outcomes among all Australians, suffering from chronic conditions.
Active engagement
This recognizes the effects of active engagement of individuals in providing a patient-centred care plan and empowers people to play an informed role in healthcare processes. The strength lies in engaging individuals for decision making process. The strategy creates provisions for personalized goal settings and development of integrated care plans. Proper decision making is an essential component of patient-centred healthcare and helps in good clinical practice (Barry and Edgman-Levitan 2012). However, the procedures that will be implemented for engaging the individuals should have been mentioned.
Continuity of care
This strategy focuses on continuity of care and works towards ensuring that all individuals are provided seamless and timely access to a range of healthcare services. Thus, the strength lies in the fact that it intends to focus on effective transfer, referral and discharge of patients across the healthcare settings. Well-coordinated care facilities help in improving the health outcomes (Slayton et al. 2015). One drawback can be associated with the lack of information organising healthcare funding.
Accessible health services
This strategy is has been well formulated because it focuses on creating accessible and affordable healthcare services for all people. This is a major strength as affordable services will help patients, belonging to poor socio-economic status gain health benefits (Free et al. 2013). Further strength lies in the mention of the use of telehealth services and technologies to improve healthcare access. However, there are several barriers that exist in implementation of telehealth facilities such as minimal reimbursement (Nagel, Pomerleau and Penner 2013).
Strengths of the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions
Information sharing
This effective strategy illustrated effective data sharing, advanced care plans and use of EHRs to facilitate secured sharing of clinical information. Maintenance of an EHR will provide necessary information related to the risk factors and treatment of chronic conditions (Middleton et al. 2013). This will improve health status of people who consult for treatment in future. However, lack of adequate computer skills can act as a major barrier in its implementation.
Supportive systems
Although the strategy advocates collaboration between healthcare partners and with external sectors, there is lack of information on the steps that will be undertaken for improving coordination.
This is one of the most essential aspects of the framework as it focuses on improving life expectancy of indigenous population.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
Indigenous people have faced several years of discrimination and injustice that makes them disadvantaged, when compared to other Australians (Bourke et al. 2012). They experience higher rates of disease. The major risk factors that contribute to poor health are remoteness of their communities, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to healthcare services (Aspin et al. 2012). Thus, the strength of the strategy lies in providing culturally appropriate and safe healthcare services to the indigenous people.
Action and empowerment
Priority populations are generally defined by their demographic and geographic factors and often are at an increased likelihood of suffering from chronic conditions. Owing to this fact, this strategy is considered essential as it intends to provide best quality and safe healthcare services that will help in meeting the health needs of the priority population. Prioritizing the health issues of this population is essential for a community needs assessment and helps in identifying the health determinants and inequities. Thus, this strategy has been adequately framed and will contribute to delivery of services in a culturally safe way. However, there is lack of information on the steps that will help in fostering community partnership for meeting the goals.
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be stated that although several other frameworks have been developed by the governments in consultation with health networks, this policy shows consistency with most of them in identifying the priority areas, and devising strategies for ensuring quality and safety of patients. The National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions is an effective health policy because it focuses on delivery of high quality and safe health services to people, in addition to building the healthcare infrastructure.
It also encompasses the use information technology and skilled workforce for enhancing the health outcomes. This critical analysis helped to identify the social determinants of health and the common risk factors and co-morbidities that contribute to chronic diseases among the Aboriginals and the priority population. However, there is a need to increase healthcare funding and access to healthcare facilities in remote areas for achieving the goals. Thus, implementation of the framework will help in reducing the prevalence of chronic condition
References
Aspin, C., Brown, N., Jowsey, T., Yen, L. and Leeder, S., 2012. Strategic approaches to enhanced health service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic illness: a qualitative study. BMC health services research, 12(1), p.143.
Awoonor-Williams, J.K., Sory, E.K., Nyonator, F.K., Phillips, J.F., Wang, C. and Schmitt, M.L., 2013. Lessons learned from scaling up a community-based health program in the Upper East Region of northern Ghana. Global Health: Science and Practice, 1(1), pp.117-133.
Barry, M.J. and Edgman-Levitan, S., 2012. Shared decision making—the pinnacle of patient-centered care. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(9), pp.780-781.
Bourke, L., Humphreys, J.S., Wakerman, J. and Taylor, J., 2012. Understanding rural and remote health: a framework for analysis in Australia. Health & Place, 18(3), pp.496-503.
Chakraborty, S., Bhattacharya, S. and Dobrzykowski, D.D., 2014. Impact of supply chain collaboration on value co-creation and firm performance: a healthcare service sector perspective. Procedia Economics and Finance, 11, pp.676-694.
Free, C., Phillips, G., Galli, L., Watson, L., Felix, L., Edwards, P., Patel, V. and Haines, A., 2013. The effectiveness of mobile-health technology-based health behaviour change or disease management interventions for health care consumers: a systematic review. PLoS medicine, 10(1), p.e1001362.
Hennessy, J., 2017. National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions. COAG Health Council. Retrieved from-https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/A0F1B6D61796CF3DCA257E4D001AD4C4/$File/National%20Strategic%20Framework%20for%20Chronic%20Conditions.pdf
Iwamoto, D.K. and Smiler, A.P., 2013. Alcohol makes you macho and helps you make friends: The role of masculine norms and peer pressure in adolescent boys’ and girls’ alcohol use. Substance use & misuse, 48(5), pp.371-378.
Middleton, B., Bloomrosen, M., Dente, M.A., Hashmat, B., Koppel, R., Overhage, J.M., Payne, T.H., Rosenbloom, S.T., Weaver, C. and Zhang, J., 2013. Enhancing patient safety and quality of care by improving the usability of electronic health record systems: recommendations from AMIA. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 20(e1), pp.e2-e8.
Mohammad Mosadeghrad, A., 2013. Healthcare service quality: Towards a broad definition. International journal of health care quality assurance, 26(3), pp.203-219.
Nagel, D.A., Pomerleau, S.G. and Penner, J.L., 2013. Knowing, Caring, and Telehealth Technology: “Going the Distance” in Nursing Practice. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 31(2), pp.104-112.
Singh, J., 2013. Critical appraisal skills programme. Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, 4(1), p.76.
Slayton, R.B., Toth, D., Lee, B.Y., Tanner, W., Bartsch, S.M., Khader, K., Wong, K., Brown, K., McKinnell, J.A., Ray, W. and Miller, L.G., 2015. Vital signs: estimated effects of a coordinated approach for action to reduce antibiotic-resistant infections in health care facilities—United States. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 64(30), p.826.
Sørensen, K., Van den Broucke, S., Fullam, J., Doyle, G., Pelikan, J., Slonska, Z. and Brand, H., 2012. Health literacy and public health: a systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC public health, 12(1), p.80.
Tinetti, M.E., Fried, T.R. and Boyd, C.M., 2012. Designing health care for the most common chronic condition—multimorbidity. Jama, 307(23), pp.2493-2494.
Ventola, C.L., 2014. Mobile devices and apps for health care professionals: uses and benefits. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 39(5), p.356.
Victora, C.G., Bahl, R., Barros, A.J., França, G.V., Horton, S., Krasevec, J., Murch, S., Sankar, M.J., Walker, N., Rollins, N.C. and Group, T.L.B.S., 2016. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. The Lancet, 387(10017), pp.475-490.
Virtanen, P., Janlert, U. and Hammarström, A., 2013. Health status and health behaviour as predictors of the occurrence of unemployment and prolonged unemployment. Public health, 127(1), pp.46-52.
Order an Essay Now & Get These Features For Free:
Turnitin Report
Formatting
Title Page
Citation
Outline
