Keywords
Citation
Morris, B. (2001), "Australian quarterly review of comparative hospital and health service", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 14 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2001.06214cab.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Australian quarterly review of comparative hospital and health service
Australian quarterly review of comparative hospital and health service
Keywords: Health care, Hospitals, Australia
In January, the Australian Ministry of Health published the Quarterly Review of Comparative Hospital and Health Service Performance for the three months to 30 September 2000.
The report said that surveys of both inpatients and outpatients treated by Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) confirm the pattern of good results. It also said that the majority of HHSs were breaking even or better, with all but two HHSs covering all of their operating costs, including the cost of interest, for the 12 months ended 30 September 2000. However, 11 HHSs did not cover the full cost of capital, including the capital charge. Based on past years' results, the HHSs with declining performance may be exhibiting a cyclical performance downturn during the September quarter. This cyclical performance seems to be associated with seasonal fluctuations, as patient throughput declines sharply in January then rises again in February and March each year. The seasonal fluctuation in patient throughput and the increased workload up to the mid-winter peak creates significant challenges for the sector.