Full bibliography

Study topic
Evaluation of HealthPathways implementation across five Australian Medicare Locals (MLs), focusing on process, impacts, sustainability, and cross-sector collaboration.

Study type
Mixed-methods evaluation including interviews, surveys, document review, and usage analytics.

Key findings

• HealthPathways is a web-based clinical guidance and referral tool developed in Canterbury, NZ, and adapted in Australia to improve integration between primary and acute care.
• The evaluation covered five MLs: Barwon, Central Coast NSW, Hunter, Inner North West Melbourne, and Townsville Mackay.
• Implementation was supported by Streamliners NZ, which provided the platform, technical writing, and community support.
• Localised pathways were more frequently used and valued than non-localised ones.
• Early impacts included improved collaboration between GPs and hospital specialists, enhanced clinician experience, and increased support for GPs.
• No measurable system-level impacts (e.g. reduced wait times) were observed yet, but anecdotal improvements were noted in maternity services.
• Sustainability depends on clinician engagement, adequate resourcing, data collection, and ongoing collaboration between MLs and LHNs.
• Risks include premature launches, outdated content, and potential over-reliance on pathways by less experienced clinicians.
• Benefits include improved communication, reduced unnecessary referrals, better resource use, and more consistent care.