Health and the 1999 Regional Australia Summit

The Regional Australia Summit brought together 282 invited delegates from all parts of Australia. The aim of the Summit was to develop partnerships between the government, business and community sectors to deliver a better future for regional, rural and remote areas facing significant change. Health was one of 12 themes discussed at the Summit. Five key health priorities were identified; the need to change the dominant metropolitan mind-set, improve access to health-care services, improve service provision and workforce training, ensure equitable resource allocation, and adopt a population health approach. The ultimate success of the Regional Australia Summit will be gauged over time by the extent to which the health, wellbeing and prosperity of rural, remote and regional Australians has been improved, and existing problems and issues addressed. Nonetheless, the Summit is a significant event because it addresses issues at the highest level of government, emphasises coordination and the adoption of an intersectoral approach, and recognises the need to empower local communities and build partnerships between the government, corporate and community sectors.     

COMMUNITY VENTURES IN RURAL HEALTH: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH TRUSTS IN SOUTHERN NEW ZEALAND

ABSTRACT: During the 1990s, a shortage of funds and a competitive market for public sector health services created both threats and opportunities for rural health services in New Zealand. In three of the four regional funding areas, rural health services experienced increased levels of closure or privatisation. In the fourth area, the Southern Region, the initiative of the community and the response of the funder combined to produce an alternative response; the formation of community health trusts that allowed local communities to own their own health facilities and to contract to run the services. Through a survey of community trusts this research analyses the process of trust formation and assesses the critical success factors in the community (local leadership, local financial and other commitment, involvement of local professionals, learning from each other, local operational efficiency) which allowed the trusts to survive and thrive.     

Rural healthy people 2010--evolving interactive practice

The objectives of the Rural Healthy People 2010 project are to employ a survey of state and local rural health leaders to identify rural health priorities, to synthesize available research and other publications on these priorities, to identify and describe models for practice employed by rural communities to address these priorities, and to disseminate this information to rural communities. We describe these priorities; the content of Rural Healthy People 2010 products, methods, and target audiences; and the continuing evolution of the program. Rural Healthy People 2010 encourages rural support of Healthy People 2010 goals and invites state and local rural health leaders to share their successful models with others.     

The WAMI Rural Hospital Project. Part 6: Overview and conclusions.

The Rural Hospital Project (RHP) appeared to make a meaningful difference in the six Northwest rural communities that participated in this integrated community development and strategic planning effort. Although the methodological approach used in the evaluation precludes us from attributing observed changes in outcomes solely to the project interventions themselves, several elements of the process appear to be useful in stabilizing or expanding local health care systems. These include: (1) the involvement of outside organizations in fostering community change, (2) a high degree of community commitment and investment in all stages of the process, (3) comprehensive identification of problems in the health care system by outside consultants, (4) the use of periodic meetings of communities confronting similar issues, (5) identification and development of local leadership, (6) enhancing teamwork among local health care providers, and (7) the development of conflict-resolution mechanisms within health care organizations. Future attempts to use this strategy to strengthen rural health care systems can be enhanced by broadening the range of participation in health services planning, enlisting involvement of medical staff throughout the strategic planning cycle, addressing the issue of physician recruitment, and clarifying responsibility for implementation of community plans. Rural communities will predictably need to identify and resolve a set of core issues. To the extent that external organizations such as medical schools can strengthen the ability of rural health professionals and community leaders to identify and address these issues, the quality and viability of rural health care systems will be enhanced.     

A Model to Translate Evidence-Based Interventions Into Community Practice

There is a tension between 2 alternative approaches to implementing community-based interventions. The evidence-based public health movement emphasizes the scientific basis of prevention by disseminating rigorously evaluated interventions from academic and governmental agencies to local communities. Models used by local health departments to incorporate community input into their planning, such as the community health improvement process (CHIP), emphasize community leadership in identifying health problems and developing and implementing health improvement strategies. Each approach has limitations. Modifying CHIP to formally include consideration of evidence-based interventions in both the planning and evaluation phases leads to an evidence-driven community health improvement process that can serve as a useful framework for uniting the different approaches while emphasizing community ownership, priorities, and wisdom.Two approaches to implementing community health improvement interventions are in use, each with strengths and limitations. Research-driven approaches such as evidence-based public health1 emphasize the scientific basis of prevention by disseminating rigorously evaluated interventions from academic and governmental agencies to local communities. These approaches acknowledge that the efficacy of an intervention in controlled trials frequently does not carry over to wide implementation in communities.2 Other approaches to incorporating community input into local health department planning, such as the community health improvement process (CHIP),3 Mobilizing for Action Through Planning and Partnerships,4 and PRECEDE-PROCEED,5 emphasize community leadership in identifying high-priority health problems and in developing and implementing health improvement strategies. We designed the evidence-driven community health improvement process (EDCHIP) to unite these different approaches to community health planning, implementation, and evaluation and emphasize community ownership, priorities, and wisdom.     

Intersectoral problems in the Russian organisation of public health

In spite of the ongoing transition of the Russian society, there is still a traditional view of public health, which is based to a great extent on the ideals and priorities of the Soviet period. Public health activities are regarded mainly as a responsibility of the health sector. There are, however, important public health activities going on also in other sectors of the society, for example, in the educational sector and the local communities, but also in the social insurance system. There is an important Russian tradition of prophylactic treatment in sanatoriums and health resorts, which is financed to a large extent by the social insurance. Based on three qualitative empirical studies, this article describes the organisation of public health in the Russian Federation and analyses the problems of intersectoral co-ordination and collaboration within this organisation. The analysis is focusing on the relations between the health sector and the social insurance system, which are not so well known outside the country. The results of this analysis show a fragmented organisation with a serious lack of co-ordination, but also a limited collaboration between the different sectors involved in public health. On the basis of these results, there is a discussion of how intersectoral collaboration could be improved in the Russian organisation of public health.     

Adolescent alcohol use and the community health agenda: a study of leaders' perceptions in 28 small towns

The study assessed leaders' perceptions of adolescent alcoholuse as a public health issue in 28 small communities in northernMinnesota, as part of formative evaluation for a community-basedintervention to reduce adolescent alcohol access and consumption.One hundred and eighteen leaders from five key community sectorswere interviewed about their perceptions of social, health andalcohol-related problems in their communities. Analyses indicatedthat school representatives and police chiefs perceived adolescentalcohol use and related problems to be serious; newspaper editorsmentioned other social problems more often; and mayors and businessrepresentatives did not perceive adolescent alcohol problemsto be as serious. In relation to efforts to affect local policy,the study suggested government and business sectors in thesecommunities may need to be educated about the problem to buildits importance on the community agenda of health issues. Thuscommunity leaders in some sectors may comprise a key targetaudience for intervention.     

Knowledge translation case study: a rural community collaborates with researchers to investigate health issues

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge translation implies the exchange and synthesis of knowledge between researchers and research users, employing a high level of communication and participation, not only to share the knowledge found through research, but also to implement subsequent strategies. Prince Edward Island, a rural province in Canada, provided the setting to exchange knowledge between researchers and a rural community on the health issues affecting children. METHODS: A case study reports census data, demographic trends, and information about health issues immediate to the community. These focus groups were held to plan solutions to the community's health priorities. The process was participatory, characterized by community involvement. RESULTS: Those participating in the focus groups were interested in research findings and literature to solve local problems. Parenting and mental health were determined to be priority issues requiring broader community engagement. The process of translating knowledge into action after the focus groups met lacked widespread involvement of the community. DISCUSSION: Although encouraged to do so, the larger rural community did not participate in examining research findings or in planning interventions. The parents in this community may not have perceived themselves as having influence in the process or goals of the project.     

Participatory involvement of farming communities and public sectors in determining malaria control strategies in Mvomero District, Tanzania

Addressing the malaria-agriculture linkages requires a broad inter-disciplinary and integrated approach that involves farming communities and key public sectors. In this paper, we report results of participatory involvement of farming communities in determining malaria control strategies in Mvomero District, Tanzania. A seminar involving local government leaders, health and agricultural officials comprising of a total of 27 participants was held. Public meetings in villages of Komtonga, Mbogo, Mkindo, Dihombo and Luhindo followed this. Findings from a research on the impact of agricultural practices on malaria burden in the district were shared with local communities, public sector officials and other key stakeholders as a basis for a participatory discussion. The community and key stakeholders had an opportunity to critically examine the linkages between agricultural practices and malaria in their villages and to identify problems and propose practical solutions. Several factors were identified as bottlenecks in the implementation of malaria control in the area. Lack of community participation and decision making in malaria interventions was expressed as among the major constraints. This denied the community the opportunities of determining their health priorities and accessing knowledge needed to effectively implement malaria interventions. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the importance of participatory approach that involves community and other key stakeholders in malaria control using an ecosystem approach. An interdisciplinary and integrated approach is needed to involve farmers and more than one sector in malaria control effort.     

What remains for the future: strengthening community actions to become an integral part of health promotion practice

To mark the 25th anniversary of the Ottawa Charter, this paper will discuss what remains to be achieved in strengthening community actions as an integral part of health promotion practice. To do this, the paper discusses four key elements for the future of health promotion programmes: (1) engage communities to share priorities; (2) build community capacity; (3) mechanisms for flexible and transparent funding; and (4) being creative in order to expand or replicate successful local initiatives. The paper uses a number of international case study examples of how these key elements can be achieved in health promotion programmes. A major challenge for the future is how health promotion agencies can develop and maintain the trust of communities, especially socially marginalized communities in society. The paper concludes by identifying a number of short and longer term challenges to achieve these goals and offers a way forward for a brighter future direction of health promotion practice.     

Developing healthy local communities at local government level: lessons from the past decade

Abstract: There have been many approaches by the health sector to developing healthy communities based on local government areas in Australia in the past decade. Each has struggled with the need to establish realistic goals and to find ways of working more effectively with local government. This paper outlines four of these approaches–Healthy Cities, the Healthy Localities project, municipal health plans, and programs to address specific health problems or issues. Although the picture is one of huge diversity in the ways in which the issue is defined and action taken, a number of dimensions to a healthy community are emerging. However, if we are to be able to monitor change within and between the health of communities over time, indicators need to be developed and goals set. This will require a shift away from defining goals and targets in terms of populations (people), towards goals based on changes in organisations and systems. Engaging local government in this process will be vital and will require the health sector to develop a better understanding of the ways in which local government defines its role in creating healthy communities. It will also involve learning from local government the strategies that they have found most effective in dealing with complex problems that require action at many levels.     

Community involvement in medical practitioner recruitment and retention: reflections on experience

The provision of health services to rural and remote communities has been the source of much concern and debate in recent times. One aspect of this is the universal problem of insufficient medical practitioners in rural areas and the associated issues of recruitment and retention. Rural communities can play an important role in the recruitment and retention of health professionals, particularly in terms of aiding the integration of health professionals and their families into the community. Community 'involvement' is not community 'development' in the usual sense of that term. Community involvement is about engaging and facilitating active community participation and leadership in the process at hand. This article reflects on experience gained through working with rural and remote communities in Queensland, Australia, with the key purpose of facilitating active community involvement in the recruitment and retention of medical practitioners. This article raises and discusses a number of issues arising from these experiences, with particular focus on barriers and opportunities to community involvement, and working with other agencies. Communities and agencies that attempt to increase rural community involvement in health service planning, provision, recruitment and retention should consider the following. For communities: Involvement must be real--active participation; Expectations need to be achievable (short and long term); Outcomes should be sustainable; Resources and capacity should remain in the community. For agencies: Avoid creating unrealistic community expectations; Be aware of time and resource requirements and constraints; Be consistent, forthright and honest in all dealings with communities; Keep communities informed of pending policy changes; See the process through to whatever conclusion.     

Health promotion and disease prevention by small rural hospitals: reasons, obstacles, and enablers

Rural health stakeholders expect small rural hospitals to help improve health status in their communities. Those hospitals may try to offer health promotion and disease prevention (HPDP) services, but they confront big obstacles when doing this. Research interviews with chief executive officers (CEOs) at small rural hospitals found that low reimbursement, community attitudes, inpatient priorities, personnel shortages, low educational levels, weak local economies, and large older populations are often barriers to HPDP. Research also found practical methods that enabled CEOs to overcome obstacles and to offer HPDP in their rural communities. Collaboration with many organizations within and beyond their communities is essential to expand and leverage facilities, equipment, legitimacy, funds, interpersonal connections, knowledge, and resources. Philanthropy, grant writers, and grants are important, as is the involvement of employee champions and volunteers. Political advocacy can help. Implementing these enablers requires effective leadership, communication, interpersonal relations, and trust building.     

Service accountability and community participation in the context of health sector reforms in Asia: implications for sexual and reproductive health services

This paper examines the concept and practice of community participation in World Bank-supported health sector reforms in Asia, and how far such participation has strengthened accountability with regard to provision of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. It argues that the envisaged scope of community participation within a majority of reforms in Asia has been limited to programme management and service delivery, and it is occurring within the boundaries of priorities that are defined through non-participatory processes. Setting up of community health structures, decentralization and community financing are three important strategies used for promoting participation and accountability within reforms. The scant evidence on the impact of these strategies suggests that marginalized groups and sexual and reproductive rights based groups are poorly represented in the forums for participation, and that hierarchies of power between and amongst health personnel and the public play out in these forums. Community financing has not lead to enhanced service accountability. As a result of the above limitations, community participation in health sector reforms has rarely strengthened accountability with respect to provision of comprehensive SRH services. In this context, rights (including sexual and reproductive) based groups and researchers need to engage with design, monitoring and evaluation of health sector reforms, both from inside as participants and outside as pressure groups. Participation contracts enhancing powers of civil society representatives, quotas for participation (for women, other marginalized groups and rights-based organizations), and investment in capacity building of these stakeholders on leadership and sexual reproductive rights and health are pre-requisites if participation is to lead to health and SRH service accountability. Community participation and service accountability hence requires more and not less investment of resources by the state.     

Economic Effects of the Outmigration of Obstetric Services in a Rural County

Obstetrical health care resources have been declining in rural areas since 1980, resulting in reduced prenatal care that can result in higher medical costs. Loss of health care services is known to have negative economic consequences for rural communities. This article illustrates how hospitals and other providers of medical services can be used as vehicles for local economic development. Provision of medical services is an important component of the economic base of all communities and especially of small rural communities with hospitals. When a community loses medical services to another community, it loses both direct and indirect economic benefits. The research presented here analyzes the economic effects of outmigration of obstetric services from a rural "perimeter" community in Wyoming. The combined direct and indirect economic losses are shown to be significant. Annual revenue losses to the local hospital were estimated as high as 12 percent. It is important to make explicit the economic losses that result from reductions in health care. Such research, combined with knowledge of negative health and social factors can provide community leaders with additional motivation to find solutions to declining health care in rural areas.     

The academic health center and the healthy community.

US medical care reflects the priorities and influence of academic health centers. This paper describes the leadership role assumed by one academic health center, the State University at Buffalo's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and its eight affiliated hospitals, to serve its region by promoting shared governance in educating graduate physicians and in influencing the cost and quality of patient care. Cooperation among hospitals, health insurance payers, the business community, state government, and physicians helped establish priorities to meet community needs and reduce duplication of resources and services; to train more primary care physicians; to introduce shared governance into rural health care delivery; to develop a regional management information system; and to implement health policy. This approach, spearheaded by an academic health center without walls, may serve as a model for other academic health centers as they adapt to health care reform.     

A Community Development Approach to Rural Recruitment

ABSTRACT: Programs designed to empower rural communities for health care provider recruitment have usually focused on the health care sector without aggressively addressing broader community development issues. The Recruitable Community Project (RCP) in West Virginia includes community education on recruiting and also assessments of and recommendations to rural communities on broad-based community development, aiming to enhance communities' recruiting potential. The project provides multidisciplinary university-based planning assistance programs for small communities, involving collaborative community visits. The project also uses a project manager as a "community encourager" who participates in community education and in the formulation of sustained community recruiting efforts. From August 1999 through August 2001, 7 underserved rural communities completed the RCP organizational processes and hosted planning assistance teams. Members of community recruitment boards gave high marks to the RCP process, its planning assistance teams, and its usefulness in establishing community ties to state and academic agencies. Since working with the RCP, the 7 communities have recruited 27 providers, success possibly stimulated by their RCP involvement (data current as of September 2002). This model of community training and development to empower rural communities to better recruit health professionals shows early promise. This model could be broadened to include more collaboration of community development and health science disciplines programs for recruitment and retention efforts.     

"If you want to sit on your butts you'll get nothing!" Community activism in response to threats of rural hospital closure in southern New Zealand

Problems of ensuring rural health services in New Zealand have intensified as successive governments have attempted to limit expenditure and health agencies have seen rural services as relatively 'expendable'. From the literature two sets of indicators are identified: the factors influencing successful retention of rural services and the outcomes for the community. Interview and documentation data indicate the extent to which these characteristics and outcomes were present in nine rural community health trusts in southern New Zealand during the 1990s. Variability in outcome and success of community response to threats to rural services relates to the factors identified from the literature, particularly community leadership and capability, but also the prominent role played by local professionals. Given the common political and economic context, these local factors proved important in determining which communities successfully retained hospital services.     

La Revolución Ciudadana and social medicine: Undermining community in the state provision of health care in Ecuador

ABSTRACT

Under President Rafael Correa (2007–2017), Ecuador’s Ministry of Health established a state-centred health care regime that incorporates elements of Latin American social medicine into post-neoliberalism. These initiatives – which are part of ‘The National Plan for Good Living (Buen Vivir)’ – include free healthcare, greater attention to social determinants of health, a focus on equity and inclusion, and increased coordination across welfare, health, and development sectors. However, the reforms also use health services to build a sense of inclusive, participatory citizenship, with the Ecuadorean state as the central figure in service provision. In this paper, we demonstrate that state-centred health care reforms have paradoxically weakened community organising for collective health. Drawing on seventeen years of ethnographic research and health solidarity work in rural Northwest Ecuador, we illustrate how Ecuador’s health reforms have reconfigured relations among local civil society, transnational NGOs, and the state. Established modes of community participation and international collaboration have been undermined largely because these reforms ignore community sovereignty and self-organisation and overemphasise the threat of neoliberalism. The lessons about balancing the state-based fulfilment of rights with community power are relevant to social medicine advocates, particularly those working in rural communities that are already organising creatively for their own health and well-being.