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An organisation tasked with improving the coordination and integration of health care in our community has called for a heightened focus on prevention and early intervention.
It came as the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimated patients in the 100,000 square kilometre service area spend almost 71,500 bed days each year in hospital that might potentially have been prevented.
Murray PHN services an area spanning from Mildura across to Albury-Wodonga, down to Castlemaine and Seymour. More than 593,000 people live in the region, which contains 47 hospitals.
Hospital admissions are higher than the national average, at about 244 people per day, or almost 89,000 per year.
About 16,787 of those patients were hospitalised for issues that might have been prevented or responded to earlier treatment, according to Murray PHN’s first Report to the Community.
More than 5100 people in the region are hospitalised for mental health issues each year, while alcohol and drugs are at the crux of 550 hospitalisations.
“Disturbingly, AIHW estimates there are as many as 692 potentially avoidable deaths in our region each year,” the report stated.
Murray PHN CEO Matt Jones said the system needed to better support people to manage their own health and offer more accessible services to address any issues, well before illness became acute or chronic.
“The health system needs to be geared more towards prevention and early intervention,” Mr Jones said.
He said improving health literacy was key to that shift.
A Bendigo Health spokesperson said educating, informing and empowering community members to take control of their health was one of the organisation’s goals.
“Effective prevention and management of illnesses in the community not only reduces demand on healthcare services but also improves the wellbeing and quality of life for individuals and families,” they said.