Review of Rural Health Service Models

Nine Western Australian rural health services, comprising traditional 8-bed hospitals, Integrated Health Services and Multi-Purpose Services were examined to compare the different service outputs and their costs and to identify the strengths and opportunities for each model. The comparison of costed service outputs shows significant variation across the three models. The integrated models offer greater flexibility of resource utilisation, greater emphasis on the delivery of non-inpatient services and encourage multi-skilling of staff. The paper will draw key findings in both quantitative and qualitative data and raise some possible conclusions.