Strengthening Prevention
A framework for reducing the burden of preventable chronic disease in Queensland
Strengthening Prevention in Integrated Care Systems
Queensland’s health system is under pressure, with rising burden of chronic disease, increasing health utilisation and an aging population, combined with financial constraints and workforce shortages.
Redirecting healthcare delivery from a ‘break-fix’ to a ‘predict-prevent’ model centred on improving overall health and wellbeing, alongside treating established illness, is essential. This calls for different ways of working within and beyond the health system.
That’s why Health and Wellbeing Queensland consulted with 630 stakeholders and consumers to develop the Strengthening Prevention in Integrated Care Systems Framework.
What is The Framework?
Strengthening Prevention in Integrated Care Systems (The Framework) is Queensland’s framework for reducing preventable chronic disease. It focuses on chronic diseases that can be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors such as poor nutrition, physical inactivity, smoking/vaping and harmful alcohol use.*
The Framework is designed to build Integrated Care Systems that collectively drive the shift to a stronger, more connected approach to chronic disease prevention. Guiding principles and building blocks provide the ‘key ingredients’ for partners across health, community and social care sectors to strengthen prevention together.*
*The Framework is aligned to Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s remit; however, it could be applied beyond the identified scope.
What ICS include
What are Integrated Care Systems?
Integrated Care Systems (ICS) bring together committed leaders from organisations that shape the health and wellbeing of communities. While their composition varies by region, ICSs may include:
- Health services
- Community organisations
- All levels of government
- Social enterprises
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Private sector and industry
- Researchers and academics
With shared cross-sector commitment, ICSs set the strategic direction for local approaches that strengthen chronic disease prevention. They turn commitment into action by involving relevant partners across agencies, the workforce and the community. The Framework’s building blocks provide the right foundations to reshape preventive health to meet the unique needs and priorities of the region.
Our commitment
Purpose of The Framework
Health and Wellbeing Queensland developed The Framework to enable meaningful collaboration and provide the foundations for a coordinated, cross-sector approach to sustainable chronic disease prevention.
We have a real opportunity to unite for maximum collective impact – working together to deliver preventive health differently and to strengthen, scale and spread innovation already happening across Queensland. Rather than silos and duplication of effort, a shared vision across agencies enables skills, expertise and resources to be leveraged and mobilised for a sustainable prevention ecosystem that:
Improves population health
Improves customer experience
Reduces costs
Optimises the workforce
Reduces health inequities
Our Communities
Who is The Framework for?
Leaders from organisations that influence the health and wellbeing of communities are encouraged to establish ICSs that drive system wide change toward proactive prevention. This requires collaboration with multi-agency partners, workforce and communities themselves. Advancing the prevention agenda calls for leadership with the capacity to move beyond daily system pressures and champion transformative, sustainable change.
Together we can strengthen chronic disease prevention at the people and community, service, and system levels.
About prevention
Why does chronic disease prevention matter?
We must do more to prevent chronic disease, not just treat it. By reducing preventable illness, we can support better health outcomes for Queenslanders and a more sustainable health system into the future.
Determinants
What is chronic disease prevention?
Preventable chronic diseases are long term conditions with modifiable risk factors. Chronic disease prevention spans the prevention spectrum – wider determinants of health, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
Social, cultural, economic and environmental factors that influence an individual’s health outcomes are foundational to delivery of prevention – improving health and wellbeing for all.
Universal access to health information, tools and programs that support positive health behaviours, preventing the onset of chronic disease – keeping people well in the community, and out of hospital.
Targeted approaches that reach those at increased risk of developing chronic disease for timely identification and early intervention – lowering future healthcare demand.
Proactive, personalised care for those already living with chronic disease to slow progression and maintain quality of life – reducing complications and healthcare utilisation.
Statistics
Spectrum of prevention
Addressing the wider determinants of health and investing in primary prevention will have a transformative impact on reducing chronic disease in the long term. At the same time, targeted interventions and personalised care in secondary and tertiary prevention will help ease health care demand and utilisation in the short term.
Reducing complications and healthcare utilisation
Lowering future healthcare demand
Keeping people well and out of hospital
Improving health and wellbeing for all
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