Question

What comprises the Community Service function traditionally exercised by both Academic Medical Centers and Community Hospitals?

Answer 1

Community service function by academic medical centres includes developing community-based systems of primary care, outreach programs, and social supports; training professionals committed to serving isolated and poor communities; and performing research that will extend the knowledge base to include the health and social issues of the disadvantaged.

Community centred services aim to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents by:

• Encouraging people to actively participate in their own health care
• Working together with other primary health care providers such as general practitioners (GPs) to provide coordinated care
• Liaising with other health agencies and service providers to fill service gaps
• Encouraging individuals and community groups to actively participate in the centre’s activities, including service planning, fundraising and volunteer work
• Promoting prevention of lifestyle-related diseases and conditions
• Developing health care programs and activities to improve social and physical environments in the community.

The services offered vary between community health services, depending on the needs of the local area. Primary health services could include:

• Counselling and support services
• Health promotion activities
• Medical and nursing services
• Dental health
• Allied health, including audiology, dietetics, exercise physiology, physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

Other services and supports may include:

• Aged care services
• Alcohol and drug programs
• Carer respite
• Maternal and child health services
• Mental health programs
• Disability services
• Outreach services
• Problem gambling programs
• Rehabilitation programs
• Support for self-help