An evaluation report into Mid and North Coast HealthPathways has found HealthPathways should be embedded as a single source of truth for local primary care.
The report also found the established online resource should be leveraged to support coordination and integration across the three levels of the health system.
Report methodology
Research organisation The Science of Knowing undertook the evaluation. Its methodology included a desktop review of grey and peer-reviewed literature and a ‘mixed methods’ approach to process and outcome evaluation of the Mid and North Coast program, with a focus on its contribution to collaborative or integrated care.
The quantitative component consisted of a detailed descriptive statistical analysis of Google Analytics data and a health professionals survey. Alongside, a qualitative case study of shared antenatal care pathways included four online focus groups and 11 individual stakeholder interviews.
Since its inception 10 years ago, HealthPathways has developed more than 700 localised pathways and receives over 20,000 page views a month from 1,000-plus users.
Trusted and reliable
The evaluation found that HealthPathways is viewed as a trusted and reliable source of local clinical information and has improved clinicians’ experience of providing care.
Analysis of site data showed that usage has continued to increase over time, with a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic and critical events such as the floods and bushfires, demonstrating usefulness to clinicians in rapidly changing clinical environments.
HealthPathways Clinical Lead Dr Sarah Mollard said the report ‘highlights that HealthPathways can play a significant role in relationship building and collaboration across the different levels of the local health system’.
‘We’ve also contributed to improvements in local models of care, and system changes in the region over the past 10 years,’ Dr Mollard said. ‘We have demonstrated that the use of HealthPathways can be an effective education tool for primary healthcare professionals and GP registrars.’
Opportunities to improve
The report identified a number of opportunities for quality improvement, including recommendations to increase uptake of the site, explore technological barriers and opportunities, review program processes to ensure ongoing usefulness and quality, and to implement a monitoring and evaluation framework.
‘The HealthPathways team has already implemented many of the recommendations made around how the program can be improved,’ Dr Mollard said.
‘We are working closely with our partners at Healthy North Coast, Mid North Coast LHD and Northern NSW LHD to leverage the program and further support coordination and integration across the three levels of the health system.
‘We want to see HealthPathways embedded across the region as a tool that can drive health system improvements by bridging the gap between primary and tertiary care, and by providing trusted localised clinical, referral and health systems information.
‘We’re looking forward to working with GPs and GP registrars to ensure the platform meets their needs going forward and to support continued uptake and usage into the future.’