Health initiatives to reduce the potentially preventable hospitalisation of older people in rural and regional Australia

ISSUE ADDRESSED Australia's ageing population has growing health care needs, challenging timely health service provision. In rural and regional areas, older Australians have poorer health care outcomes and higher rates of potentially preventable hospital (PPH) admissions. The objective of this study was to identify Australian Governmental initiatives designed to reduce PPH of older adults (65 years and over) in rural and regional areas. METHODS An internet search, underpinned by an environmental scan methodology, was utilised to systematically search the websites of Australian government health departments for relevant initiatives. Stakeholder interviews were then conducted to enrich the findings of the environmental scan. Thematic analysis was utilised to analyse all data. RESULTS We identified 13 initiatives currently in existence in Australia that fulfilled the search criteria. Stakeholder interviews revealed a range of other local interventions in rural communities across the country, driven largely by community need and a lack of health service accessibility. CONCLUSIONS The identified small number of Governmental health initiatives designed to reduce the PPH of older people living in rural and regional Australia may indicate gaps in the provision of services designed to enable older adults to remain at home and avoid subsequent hospital admissions. SO WHAT?: A coordinated, systemic approach to health promotion targeting older people in rural and regional areas should be explored, with a focus on collaboration between sectors (including primary care, allied health and prehospital services).