EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Preamble Country SA PHNs (CSAPHN) geographically large and demographically diverse region creates some interesting complexities for a needs analysis. The analysis describes an overall picture of the needs of the region, though perhaps in a somewhat generic way. Due to data aggregation and suppression in fundamental administrative datasets, the needs of the smaller communities within the broader geography are not identified using this method alone. In managing this the CSAPHN has provided a general needs analysis of our sub-regions but works at a more localised level with our Local Health Clusters (Community Advisor Committees) to identify needs targeted to individual or small groups of individual communities. The overarching context for consideration by this needs assessment, is a region covering an area greater than 900,000 square kilometres and a population density fewer than 2 persons per square kilometres. Our region comprises over 100 communities of significant size, with only 10 communities over 10,000 persons and the remainder in the range of approximately 500 to 2000 persons. Given the geographically large and demographically diverse region it serves, CSAPHN considers the assessment presented here as a stepping stone towards continual, in depth assessment of the local context, needs and priorities.
Summary The Country SA PHN (CSAPHN) needs assessment utilises an iterative approach where information gained between submissions, including emerging needs, is incorporated to refresh analysis and triangulation for determining opportunities for action. Over time, it is expected that large parts of the documentation will remain static. This reflects the incremental shifts in population demographics, health risk behaviour, disease prevalence and improvements in health outcomes in response to implemented initiatives or other factors. CSAPHN’s needs assessment approach, integrates data available publicly or obtained confidentially from the Australian Department of Health and key partners such as SA Health and the six South Australian regional Local Health Networks, with additional evidence collected through stakeholder consultations. An overview of the principal data sources used is documented in the Needs Assessment Data Report - November 2018 which includes a holistic look at demographic, health, and health service patterns to identify locations and populations with particular health and service needs as well as country SA-wide priorities. The needs assessment process highlights the importance of investigating chronic condition and their risk factors, including resultant progression to multimorbidity, to fully realise opportunities for primary and secondary prevention in future CSAPHN work. Commonly identified examples include; type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, as well as chronic pain, which can relate to a wide range of other chronic conditions including the afore mentioned, arthritis, cancer and depression or pain resulting from another unresolved issues or injury. However, the magnitude of these disease burdens and service needs are likely to be underestimated owing in part to the difficulty of timely diagnosis along with the difficulty in obtaining accurate statistics, especially at the small area level.
Country SA PHN Needs Assessment 2019-2022 (Annual Update 2019)V2 Page 3
