Stroke service delivery in rural areas in Australia lacks evidence-based, best practice care protocols as a result of limited resources and opportunity. Healthcare redesign is an approach to improving health services by understanding barriers and enablers to service provision and work with users to develop solutions for improvement. This research aimed to qualitatively evaluate stroke care in rural Tasmania using a person-centered approach, as part of a larger healthcare redesign initiative to improve acute stroke care. Semi-structured interviews, aimed at gaining insight into experiences of healthcare staff and users, were conducted. Thematic analysis revealed three global themes (communication, holistic care, and resourcing) that demonstrated some consistency between healthcare staff and user experience, highlighting that some needs and expectations were not being met. Results of this experiential study provide important perspectives for delivering needs-based improvements in service provision for acute stroke care. Overall, this study showed that systems of stroke care in rural areas could be improved by utilizing a redesign approach including healthcare staff and users in the development of solutions for health service improvement.
History
Publication title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
20
Pagination
1-12
ISSN
1660-4601
Department/School
Tasmanian School of Medicine
Publisher
MDPI AG
Place of publication
Switzerland
Repository Status
Restricted
Socio-economic Objectives
Evaluation of health outcomes; Health status (incl. wellbeing); Rural and remote area health