DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE PLANNING, PROCUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT OUTLINE (OR APPROACH) FOR OPTIMAL MANAGEMENT OF MAJOR CAPITAL TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTH ORGANISATIONS AND HEALTH SERVICES.

Option 1: Integration of Healthcare Integration of health service organisation and delivery is being seen as part of the solution to sustaining health systems the world over. Integrated care involves the provision of seamless, effective and efficient care that reflects the whole of a person’s health needs; from prevention through to end of life, across both physical and mental health, and in partnership with the individual, carers and families. An integration activity or initiative may involve a part or several parts of this continuum.Integration activities, in services and systems, focuses on an individual’s needs, communication and connection and activities between health care providers across the care system continuum – hospitals; community health; aged and social care; primary care etc., with importance and recognition given to access and equity and services proximal to communities.In this iBrief exercise we are interested in a broad concept of integrated health services and system (as opposed to specific service integration (e.g. medication management in the community); health management approaches (e.g. behavioural and mental health in children) etc.).For this iBrief task, you are asked to develop a brief for the Board of an area health service organisation that sets out three key aspects associated with integration of health services or systems: the contemporary understanding or definition of what integrated care means; an understanding and use of structural models or frameworks that are used to support thinking and planning around integration; and what are some key principles or issues in relation to successfully integrating healthcare systems which might be considered or used by the Board to assist with integration planning and activities.Option 2: Outcomes Funding Mechanisms At a recent presentation, the Director General for Health set out that there needs to be a renewed focus and understanding on the future of clinical outcomes funding mechanisms. Health organisations and facilities (in all three sectors: public, private and NGO) may receive funding based on single or multiple criteria such as activity, service type, case mix etc. In this brief you are asked to prepare an overview defining and describing clinical outcomes funding models or approaches; where fully or in part, clinical outcomes are used at present nationally and internationally; and what are the key system, service settings, research and operational issues that need to be considered around implementing funding or payment allocations using clinical outcomes as a driver in those funding mechanisms.Option 3: Technology and Procurement Strategies In health services the term ‘technology’ can refer to a range of things including biomedical equipment; drug and pharma therapies; models of care; medical and surgical procedures etc. A significant part of the costs and health economics of health system is major capital technology – technology that has high individual unit cost; has a long lifecycle; generally refers to plant and equipment used in health service delivery. In this brief you should research and summarise an agreed understanding of what is major capital technology and what are the optimal health technology management strategies used throughout the world. From your research develop an effective planning, procurement and management outline (or approach) for optimal management of major capital technology in health organisations and health services.