Health Care In Australia Essay

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In Australia, chronic illness poses serious threats to the health and wellbeing of individuals. Chronic illnesses are responsible for almost 80% of the total burden of disease and injury experienced in Australia (Aspin et al 2010). Despite a reduction in the burden of illness caused by some chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease and COPD, not all chronic illnesses are experiencing this improvement and as a result, the burden of illness continues to be rise.(Aspin et al 2010). Example, the increasing ageing population are seeing more people being exposed to chronic illness risk factors due to individuals in the community living longer (Henderson 2013). The rising burden of chronic illness will continue to have an impact on the Australian health system and will continue to be the major contributor of poor health outcomes and reduced life expectancy (Aspin et al …show more content…

Increasing access to healthcare services for all Australians, particularly those of great disadvantage such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and promoting a shared care model by making better use of health staff through increasing individuals access to allied health care and working in multidisciplinary teams (Bennett 2013). Also taking on a more patient-centered approach to care to increase patient involvement and promote self-management (Harris & Zwar 2007). Furthermore, a focus more on the prevention, screening and early interventions of chronic illness rather than curative measures can prove as a beneficial change for the Australian health system (Harris & Zwar 2007). By incorporating these factors, the care for individuals with chronic illnesses can be enhanced leading to better health outcomes for patients, protecting the quality of life and wellbeing of Australians as well as reducing the healthcare costs (Harris & Zwar

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