This report uses the results from the Coordination of Health Care (CHC) study to examine aspects of continuity of care in patients aged 45 years and over. In particular, the researchers looked at what patient characteristics and care coordination measures are associated with potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH), with a specific focus on PPH related to chronic conditions (CC-PPH).

The CHC study was developed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), in partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), to fill an important data gap relating to continuity of care. The CHC study provided self-reported information on patients’ experiences of coordination and continuity of care across Australia.

The findings of this study broadly support the idea that the PPH concept captures health service needs (primary and hospital), regardless of how or why that need has arisen. This is consistent with other studies, which also find that the health of individuals is the most important factor driving PPH admissions, but they also point to the importance of access to GPs in chronic condition management.