CHSR AIMS & Achievements

CHSR Aims

The provision of effective care
The provision of inappropriate care
The occurrence of avoidable mistakes
Barriers in access to service
Responsiveness to patients
Racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic and other disparities and
inequalities in access and treatment

To measure rates of utilisation and outcomes of health care for selected conditions and procedures, according to geocoded CD-based indices of location and social disadvantage, and possession of private health cover.
To measure rates of utilisation of health care in the last years of life in patients who die of the same underlying cause at the same age, according to location and social disadvantage and private health cover.
To measure the rate of migration of rural and remote residents towards population centres following the occurrence of serious illness, according to disease type and time since diagnosis.
To develop a health consumer focus and incorporate consumer priorities into our research.

To measure the associations of morbidity and mortality outcomes with intensity of primary medical care in patients with diabetes mellitus, using cross-jurisdictional linkage with Commonwealth MBS and PBS data.

To measure the underlying rate of disease occurrence, the utilisation and outcomes of inpatient and procedural care, according to surgical and medical specialty group, and the risks of adverse events following intervention.
To compare outcomes of surgical procedures in WA with international standards, to establish benchmarks where none exist and to disseminate results to consumers, the medical profession and health system decision-makers.

To measure the relative risk of prostate cancer in men following vasectomy, using cohort and case-control studies designed to reduce the potential for detection bias.
To establish links to measure cancer incidence, hospital morbidity and mortality risks in a cohort of women exposed to reproductive technology.

To trial linkage of the WA Linked Database to Commonwealth MBS and PBS data and family linkage.
To develop methods of incorporating linkage weights into estimation of the effect measures.

Impact on health services policy and practice within Western Australia, the rest of Australia and overseas
Foster strategic alliances between various health service professionals and government organisations
Maintain strong advisory links with industry sectors relevant to health services
Ensure our findings are accessible to health care consumers and the general community

The Centre has been successful in supporting research through:
- The creation and maintenance of data and technical infrastructure
- Facilitation of a network of collaborators
- Provision of training opportunities
Its key position in the continued development of record linkage to include family linkage and other data integrating facilities has allowed CHSR to build a reputation as an international leader in the field of health services research.
Results have been used to advocate on behalf of vulnerable populations in a country that prides itself on universal access to high quality health services.
A substantial, beneficial impact on health policy and practise is anticipated, together with new research methods and findings that we hope will contribute to international knowledge (given the relevance of CHSR research to existing national health priorities and the unique nature of the WA record linkage projects).

Created: 27/06/2006
Last Updated: 31/05/2007
Page Owner: Peta Tilbrook