Transcript [Client Name] - Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local

East Melbourne Medicare Local (EMML)
GP Primary Health Networks (PHN) Survey 2015
Interim Results Apr 2015
This report has been prepared by
Enterprise Marketing and Research Services Pty. Ltd.
60 Main Road, Moonah, 7009
All enquiries should be addressed to:
Sam Paske
Chief Operations Director
EMRS
PO Box 402
Moonah TAS 7009
Phone: (03) 6211 1222
Fax: (03) 62 111 219
E-mail: [Email Address]
Summary Methodology

To provide Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local (EMML) with the opinions of General
Practitioners (GP) as they relate to the new Primary Healthcare Networks (PHN) with a
view to informing their approach to supporting them in this change.

A nationwide on-line survey was conducted 16th – 24th April 2015:
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Questionnaire tool used to investigate and quantify the following topics:
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A sample of n=400 current GPs (and their practices) nationwide.
Total sample accurate to +/-4.9% margin of error (at the 95% confidence level).
Survey used a research panel of medical professionals.
Minimum quotas and data weighting by area to ensure adequate representation.
How informed GPs feel about the change to PHNs.
Their current level of support for PHNs, and the reasons for this prejudice.
Priorities for the new PHNs to address for GPs, their practices and their patients.
The need for new services from PHNs, and areas in which they should not be involved.
Views of the new geographical areas covered by the PHNs.
Views on purchasing of services by PHNs.
Preferred methods of contact and engagement with PHNs.
Results broken down by region throughout, noting some limited sample sizes.
Summary Findings
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GPs do not consider themselves well informed about the change to PHNs as yet, with
36% stating they feel informed (just 5% very well informed) and 64% uninformed.
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Support for and opposition to the change to PHNs , i.e. acceptance of the virtue of
change, is currently split and weak in intensity. This suggests that GPs are not yet fully
decided on their attitude to PHNs, with some suggestion of the ‘fear of the unknown’:
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Those supporting the changes do so because they hope and expect the PHNs to be an
improvement on Medicare Locals, whereas those opposed show a wider variety of
hesitations and concerns (again, indicative of ‘the unknown’):
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34% support the change to PHNs (just 4% strongly supportive).
39% opposed the changes (11% strongly opposing them).
But amongst those considering themselves informed, 48% support and 43% oppose.
34% of those supporting the change to PHNs reported dissatisfied with Medicare locals, with
5-10% each citing improvement in service, delivery, support, cost, efficiency and outcomes.
15% of those opposing thought the change a waste of money, 13% did not believe that
change was needed, 10% thought that there were too many changes, with a series of other
minor concerns around perceived bureaucracy, the geographical areas, consultation, etc.
This dissatisfaction with Medicare Locals is highlighted in the areas that GPs do not
want repeated by PHNs. Commonly, they want; more consultation (13%), reduced
bureaucracy (8%), less waste (7%) and better communication (5%).
Summary Findings
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When asked what they and their practice consider priorities for the PHNs to address,
there were varied suggestions, but with support, information and access key themes:
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GPs were less sure about what PHNs should be doing as priorities for their patients:
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14% suggested that educating and informing the community about the changes.
11% nominated access to services generally, and a further 10% mental health specifically.
These responses tally strongly with their nominated areas of most value for PHNs:
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More than 20% stated that education, training and general support for GPs were priorities.
And more than 10% cited improved communications (generally and between GPs and
hospitals), better access to services and mental health and priorities.
36% mentioned education and training as a necessary or valuable service to be provided.
20% nominated mental health; with diabetes, psychology and immunisation also common.
9% cited general support here, but also for after hours, IT, accreditation and nursing (6-11%).
On the other side of the equation, GPs felt that the PHNs should not have involvement
in several areas of operation. Notably:
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10% do not want to see involvement in the daily running of their own practices or their
finances, 9% in providing patient care, and 6% in any health services.
A further 8% hoped that the PHNs would not be involved in politics, 7% in funding decisions
and 5% in unnecessary bureaucracy.
Summary Findings
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Whilst some GPs agree that the larger PHN areas will mean economies of scale in
purchasing for their practices, more agree that there might be a lack of flexibility:
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In terms of purchasing, there is very strong want amongst these GPs that they are
involved in both decisions that affect their practice and their local area:
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61% agree that larger networks will produce economies of scale, but only 14% strongly agree.
74% agree that this will mean a ‘one size fits all’ approach, including 26% strongly agreeing.
92% agreed that they want a say in how money is spent for their practice, 59% strongly.
90% also agreed that they want a say at a local level too, including 52% strongly agreeing.
Given this want to be involved, and the lack of information more generally, it is a
significant finding that e-mail (67%), personal visits (60%) and central meetings (41%)
are by far the preferred methods of contact and engagement.
GP Knowledge & Opinions of PHNs
GPs Informed on PHNs: Summary
TOTAL WELL INFORMED
Very well informed
36%
5%
Well informed
31%
TOTAL NOT WELL
INFORMED
Not at all informed
Not very well informed
64%
12%
52%
Q1) The Federal Government has announced that the existing Medicare Locals will be replaced by Primary Health Networks, or
PHNs. How informed would you say you are about this change and the new system?
GPs Informed on PHNs: Area
TOTAL WELL INFORMED
36%
37%
35%
27%
35%
38%
Very well informed
27%
24%
30%
Well informed
35%
36%
35%
64%
63%
65%
TOTAL NOT WELL
INFORMED
Not very well informed
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
5%
3%
8%
3%
7%
5%
3%
31%
Not at all informed
Total
NSW
43%
57%
12%
11%
11%
6%
73%
65%
62%
23%
12%
12%
52%
52%
54%
51%
51%
53%
50%
Q1) The Federal Government has announced that the existing Medicare Locals will be replaced by Primary Health Networks, or
PHNs. How informed would you say you are about this change and the new system?
GPs’ Current Support for PHNs:
Summary
TOTAL SUPPORT
Strongly support
34%
4%
Somewhat support
30%
TOTAL OPPOSE
Strongly oppose
39%
11%
Somewhat oppose
28%
Undecided / No opinion
28%
Q2) Do you support or oppose the change from Medicare Locals to Primary Health Networks? That is, are you optimistic about this
change and agree with it, or are you concerned about this change and tend to disagree with it?
GPs’ Current Support for PHNs:
Informed
34%
TOTAL SUPPORT
48%
26%
4%
Strongly support
6%
2%
30%
Somewhat support
42%
24%
39%
TOTAL OPPOSE
43%
36%
Strongly oppose
11%
13%
10%
Total
28%
30%
26%
Somewhat oppose
Informed
Not informed
28%
Undecided / No opinion
9%
38%
Q2) Do you support or oppose the change from Medicare Locals to Primary Health Networks? That is, are you optimistic about this
change and agree with it, or are you concerned about this change and tend to disagree with it?
GPs’ Current Support for PHNs:
Area
28%
TOTAL SUPPORT
Strongly support
1%
34%
33%
35%
32%
4%
4%
4%
4%
4%
4%
24%
Somewhat support
30%
29%
33%
28%
TOTAL OPPOSE
28%
11%
11%
Strongly oppose
Somewhat oppose
41%
41%
5%
12%
10%
33%
16%
15%
24%
23%
Undecided / No opinion
20%
28%
28%
44%
44%
38%
40%
15%
28%
29%
28%
29%
36%
37%
39%
33%
32%
32%
30%
Total
NSW
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
Q2) Do you support or oppose the change from Medicare Locals to Primary Health Networks? That is, are you optimistic about this
change and agree with it, or are you concerned about this change and tend to disagree with it?
Reasons for Supporting PHNs
Dissatisfied with Medicare Locals
34%
Needs improvement / improve service / better delivery
9%
Better support for GP's
8%
Cost effective / cost savings
7%
Less duplication / more efficient
7%
6%
Better outcomes for patients / improve patient care
5%
Better coordination / organisation / streamlining
24%
Other reasons
Undecided
1%
Q3a) What is the main reason that you support the change to Primary Health Networks? Please explain your thinking in just a few
words below. Base: Those supporting PHNs
Reasons for Opposing PHNs
Waste of money / cost too much money
15%
Current systems works / no need to change
13%
Too many changes over the last few years / instability
10%
Too much bureaucracy / red tape
8%
The new areas are much bigger / not addressing locals
needs
8%
Will not provide what locals need / delivery of health
services
8%
7%
Lack of consultation / communication / information
31%
Other reasons
Undecided
1%
Q3b) What is the main reason that you oppose the change to Primary Health Networks? Please explain your thinking in just a few
words below. Base: Those opposing PHNs
PHN Priorities, Needs & Wants
GP Priorities for PHNs: Summary
Education / training / accreditation
31%
23%
More support / assistance to GPs (general)
Improve communication between GPs and hospitals
18%
Mental healthcare / mental health funding
16%
Better access to health / hospitals / specialist services
15%
13%
Improve communication / information / consultation
After hours services
10%
Medicare / Medicare rebates / bulk billing
9%
More / better funding (general)
9%
Support / care for patients / improve patient health
8%
Less bureaucracy / paper work / red tape
6%
IT support / E-Health / electronic records
6%
Chronic disease / chronic disease management
6%
Better coordination / organisation / streamlining
5%
Allied health care
5%
Q4) Regardless of your overall opinion, as a GP what do you think should be the immediate priorities for the new Primary Health
Networks to address…?
GP Priorities for PHNs: Area (1)
Education / training / accreditation
25%
28%
31%
35%
31%
31%
32%
23%
More support / assistance to GPs (general)
Improve communication between GPs and hospitals
Mental healthcare / mental health funding
Better access to health / hospitals / specialist services
9%
Improve communication / information / consultation
After hours services
7%
30%
20%
19%
21%
25%
17%
18%
18%
15%
23%
14%
19%
12%
16%
12%
20%
15%
20%
14%
22%
15%
11%
21%
12%
Total
16%
17%
13%
17%
12%
15%
11%
10%
9%
12%
9%
9%
8%
21%
NSW
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
17%
Q4) Regardless of your overall opinion, as a GP what do you think should be the immediate priorities for the new Primary Health
Networks to address…?
GP Priorities for PHNs: Area (2)
8% 9%
8% 9%
Medicare / Medicare rebates / bulk billing
5%
More / better funding (general)
Support / care for patients / improve patient health
4%
4%
Less bureaucracy / paper work / red tape
2%
3%
3%
3%
Chronic disease / chronic disease management
3%
Allied health care
9%
8%
10%
8%
8%
6%
8%
7% 8%
9%
6%
6%
8%
11%
11%
12%
8%
6%
IT support / E-Health / electronic records
Better coordination / organisation / streamlining
8%
5%
12%
10%
9%
7%
6%
6%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
4% 5%
5%
5%
5% 6%
3%
5%
4% 5%
8%
8%
8%
Total
NSW
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
Q4) Regardless of your overall opinion, as a GP what do you think should be the immediate priorities for the new Primary Health
Networks to address…?
Patient Priorities for PHNs:
Summary
Education / awareness / information
14%
Better access to health services
11%
Mental health
10%
Better coordination / integration of services
6%
Support / care for patients / improve patient health
5%
Make more affordable / GP fees / cost of medications
5%
Better communication between healthcare providers
5%
Shorten waiting times
4%
More support / assistance to GPs (general)
4%
After hours service
4%
Q5) And thinking about the needs of your patients, their satisfaction and well-being, what is the one most valuable thing that the
Primary Health Networks could do as a priority for action?
Patient Priorities for PHNs: Area
14% 16%
13%14%15%
13%
11%12%
9%
12%13%
10% 12%
8% 10%
17%
9%
11%
8%
10%
Education / awareness / information
Better access to health services
Mental health
6%
6%
4%
4%
Better coordination / integration of services
3%
Support / care for patients / improve patient health
5%
5% 6%
7% 8%
8%
8%
4% 5%
8%
4% 5% 6%
4% 6%
4%
7%
5%
5%
3% 5%
4% 6%
6%
4%
3% 4% 5%
5%
5%
Make more affordable / GP fees / cost of medications
Better communication between healthcare providers
Shorten waiting times
1%
More support / assistance to GPs (general)
2%
2%
After hours service
2%
2%
4% 5%
4% 5%
5%
4%
4% 5%
4%
Total
NSW
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
8%
Q5) And thinking about the needs of your patients, their satisfaction and well-being, what is the one most valuable thing that the
Primary Health Networks could do as a priority for action?
Valuable PHN Services: Summary
Education / training
36%
Mental health
20%
IT support / E-Health / electronic records
11%
After hours services
10%
More support / assistance to GPs / practices (general)
9%
Diabetes education / diabetes educator
9%
Communication / information
8%
Assistance with accreditation
6%
Psychology services
6%
Vaccine / immunisations
6%
Nurses / nurse support / funding
6%
Chronic disease / chronic disease management
5%
Q6) Are there any services that could be provided to your practice by the new Primary Health Networks that you believe would be
necessary or valuable? These could be existing services that should be maintained or taken over by them, or new services that should
be introduced.
Valuable PHN Services: Area
Education / training
Mental health
IT support / E-Health / electronic records
After hours services
More support / assistance to GPs / practices (general)
Diabetes education / diabetes educator
Communication / information
Assistance with accreditation
Psychology services
Vaccine / immunisations
Nurses / nurse support / funding
Chronic disease / chronic disease management
22%
15% 20%
21%
21%
20% 24%
19%
11% 17%
11%
8%
3%
9%11%
10%
10% 14%
5% 9%11%
15%
9%
9%
9%
6% 10%13%
8%
4% 9%
9%11%
9% 14%
8%
8%
8%
9%
3% 7% 11%
11%
6% 11%
3%5%
3%
4% 7%
6%
5%
6%
5%
5% 10%
10%
6%8%
4%
5%
6%
6%
6%
6% 10%
1%3% 7%
3% 7%
5%
2%4% 7%
4%6%
7%
36%
38%
39%
40%
35% 39%
Total
NSW
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
Q6) Are there any services that could be provided to your practice by the new Primary Health Networks that you believe would be
necessary or valuable? These could be existing services that should be maintained or taken over by them, or new services that should
be introduced.
Areas of PHN Non-Involvement:
Summary
Daily running of practices / practice management /
finances
10%
Patient / clinical / primary care
9%
Politics / Government
8%
Funding / fund holding / allocation of funds
7%
Do not provide health services
6%
Unnecessary bureaucracy / paper work / red tape
Providing services that compete with GP services
5%
4%
Q7) Are there any things that you feel the new Primary Health Networks should not have involvement in?
Areas of PHN Non-Involvement:
Area
10%
10%
11%
Daily running of practices / practice management /
finances
6%
9%
9%
9%
6%
Patient / clinical / primary care
8%
7%
Politics / Government
6%
Funding / fund holding / allocation of funds
3%
Do not provide health services
5%
5%
3%
4%
Providing services that compete with GP services
2%
3%
3%
3%
11%
9%
7%
8%
7%
7%
6%
7%
8%
6%
6%
7%
7%
6%
5%
5%
5%
6%
13%
12%
13%
8%
8%
7%
7%
Unnecessary bureaucracy / paper work / red tape
15%
11%
8%
Total
NSW
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
5%
Q7) Are there any things that you feel the new Primary Health Networks should not have involvement in?
PHNs & Medicare Locals
PHN Geographical Areas Compared
to Medicare Locals: Summary
TOTAL BETTER
Much better
Somewhat better
20%
4%
16%
TOTAL WORSE
Much worse
55%
26%
Somewhat worse
Undecided / No opinion
29%
26%
Q8) Most of the new Primary Health Networks will cover larger geographical areas than the Medicare Locals they will replace. In
terms of understanding and meeting the needs of general practice do you think they will be better or worse?
PHN Geographical Areas Compared
to Medicare Locals: Informed
20%
TOTAL BETTER
31%
13%
Total
4%
Much better
Informed
6%
3%
Not informed
16%
Somewhat better
25%
11%
55%
53%
56%
TOTAL WORSE
26%
Much worse
29%
24%
29%
Somewhat worse
24%
32%
26%
Undecided / No opinion
16%
31%
Q8) Most of the new Primary Health Networks will cover larger geographical areas than the Medicare Locals they will replace. In
terms of understanding and meeting the needs of general practice do you think they will be better or worse?
PHN Geographical Areas Compared
to Medicare Locals: Area
20%
18%
17%
21%
24%
21%
15%
TOTAL BETTER
Much better
Somewhat better
Total
NSW
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
4%
3%
1%
8%
5%
4%
4%
16%
15%
16%
13%
19%
17%
11%
TOTAL WORSE
49%
49%
26%
27%
Much worse
Somewhat worse
Undecided / No opinion
16%
55%
58%
60%
54%
57%
32%
23%
25%
29%
29%
30%
27%
33%
26%
30%
28%
26%
25%
23%
29%
27%
25%
28%
Q8) Most of the new Primary Health Networks will cover larger geographical areas than the Medicare Locals they will replace. In
terms of understanding and meeting the needs of general practice do you think they will be better or worse?
Medicare Local Mistakes to be
Avoided: Summary
More consultation / working with GPs
13%
Too much bureaucracy / red tape
8%
Wasted money
7%
Poor / lack of communication
5%
Too big (to service local needs)
5%
Increased & more accessible education / training
4%
Greater efficiency / quicker response times
4%
Q9) Thinking about Medicare Locals, is there anything they did or anything about the way they worked that should not be repeated in
these Primary Health Networks?
Medicare Local Mistakes to be
Avoided: Area
10%
More consultation / working with GPs
7%
7%
Too much bureaucracy / red tape
8%
9%
9%
5%
7%
Wasted money
4%
6%
Increased & more accessible education / training
2%
Greater efficiency / quicker response times
4%
4%
6%
7%
4%
5%
4%
4%
4%
0%
3%
3%
3%
Total
NSW
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
4%
4%
4%
8%
9%
5%
5%
3%
9%
9%
6%
4%
Too big (to service local needs)
8%
5%
10%
5%
5%
3%
Poor / lack of communication
13%
14%
15%
14%
13%
12%
6%
Q9) Thinking about Medicare Locals, is there anything they did or anything about the way they worked that should not be repeated in
these Primary Health Networks?
PHN & Purchasing
PHN & Purchasing: Summary
I want to have a say in how
the Primary Health
Networks spend money on
services for my practice
92%
59%
I want to have a say in how
the Primary Health
Networks spend money on
services in my local area
90%
52%
Having a larger network
involved in purchasing
decisions will mean a ‘one
size fits all’ approach so I
might not get what I want
Having a larger network
involved in purchasing
decisions will mean
economies of scale and
cheaper services for me
Total Agree
74%
26%
61%
14%
Strongly Agree
Q11) One of the roles of the new Primary Health Networks will be to help purchase services for GPs and others. Below are a series of
statements about this role, and for each please tell us whether you agree or disagree with what’s being said.
PHN & Purchasing: Area
I want to have a say in how
the Primary Health
Networks spend money on
services for my practice
87%
93%
95%
91%
95%
90%
92%
89%
91%
88%
90%
90%
I want to have a say in how
the Primary Health
Networks spend money on
services in my local area
74%
77%
79%
71%
69%
77%
67%
Having a larger network
involved in purchasing
decisions will mean a ‘one
size fits all’ approach so I
might not get what I want
Having a larger network
involved in purchasing
decisions will mean
economies of scale and
cheaper services for me
Total
NSW
Victoria
92%
93%
56%
55%
Queensland
Other states
61%
63%
61%
63%
62%
Metro
Regional / Rural
Q11) One of the roles of the new Primary Health Networks will be to help purchase services for GPs and others. Below are a series of
statements about this role, and for each please tell us whether you agree or disagree with what’s being said. % Total Agree
PHN Consultation & Engagement
PHN Consultation & Engagement
Preferences: Summary
By e-mail
67%
By personal visits
60%
By central meetings
41%
By phone
Through the AMA
12%
5%
Other
None / Do not want
contact
9%
3%
Q10) As a GP, how would you prefer that you (and your practice) are consulted and engaged by the new Primary Health Network in
your area? Please tick all that apply.
PHN Consultation & Engagement
Preferences: Area
67%
70%
72%
By e-mail
63%
61%
68%
66%
60%
60%
59%
61%
58%
58%
64%
By personal visits
41%
42%
44%
41%
37%
40%
46%
By central meetings
By phone
Through the AMA
12%
13%
13%
5%
Other
3%
4%
1%
1%
3%
3%
3%
17%
15%
5%
6%
3%
5%
6%
5%
5%
6%
None / Do not want
contact
11%
9%
11%
12%
9%
9%
11%
Total
NSW
Victoria
Queensland
Other states
Metro
Regional / Rural
Q10) As a GP, how would you prefer that you (and your practice) are consulted and engaged by the new Primary Health Network in
your area? Please tick all that apply.
East Melbourne Medicare Local (EMML)
GP Primary Health Networks (PHN) Survey 2015
[Month & Year]
Interim Results Apr 2015