Moving from crisis response to a learning health system: Experiences from an Australian regional primary care network
Resource type
Authors/contributors
- Forrester, Bianca (Author)
- Fisher, Georgia (Author)
- Ellis, Louise A. (Author)
- Giddy, Andrew (Author)
- Smith, Carolynn L. (Author)
- Zurynski, Yvonne (Author)
- Sanci, Lena (Author)
- Graham, Katherine (Author)
- White, Naomi (Author)
- Braithwaite, Jeffrey (Author)
Title
Moving from crisis response to a learning health system: Experiences from an Australian regional primary care network
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
The COVID‐19 pandemic challenged primary care to rapidly innovate. In response, the Western Victorian Primary Health Network (WVPHN) developed a COVID‐19 online Community of Practice comprising general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses, pharmacists, aged care and disability workers, health administrators, public health experts, medical specialists, and consumers. This Experience Report describes our progress toward a durable organizational learning health system (LHS) model through the COVID‐19 pandemic crisis and beyond.
Methods
In March 2020, we commenced weekly Community of Practice sessions, adopting the Project ECHO (Extension of Community Health Outcomes) model for a virtual information‐sharing network that aims to bring clinicians together to develop collective knowledge. Our work was underpinned by the LHS framework proposed by Menear et al. and aligned with Kotter's eight‐step change model.
Results
There were four key phases in the development of our LHS: build a Community of Practice; facilitate iterative change; develop supportive organizational infrastructure; and establish a sustainable, ongoing LHS. In total, the Community of Practice supported 83 unique COVID‐19 ECHO sessions involving 3192 h of clinician participation and over 10 000 h of organizational commitment. Six larger sessions were run between March 2020 and September 2022 with 3192 attendances. New models of care and care pathways were codeveloped in sessions and network leaders contributed to the development of guidelines and policy advice. These innovations enabled WVPHN to lead the Australian state of Victoria on rates of COVID vaccine uptake and GP antiviral prescribing.
Conclusion
The COVID‐19 pandemic created a sense of urgency that helped stimulate a regional primary care‐based Community of Practice and LHS. A robust theoretical framework and established change management theory supported the purposeful implementation of our LHS. Reflection on challenges and successes may provide insights to support the implementation of LHS models in other primary care settings.
Publication
Learning Health Systems
Volume
9
Issue
2
Pages
e10458
Date
04/2025
Journal Abbr
Learning Health Systems
Language
en
ISSN
2379-6146, 2379-6146
Short Title
Moving from crisis response to a learning health system
Accessed
8/4/25, 4:58 AM
Library Catalog
DOI.org (Crossref)
Notes
Study topic:
Implementation of a regional learning health system (LHS) in Western Victoria, Australia, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic and sustained through a primary care-led Community of Practice.
Study type:
Experience report and implementation case study
Key findings:
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated efforts to embed continuous learning and system improvement across Australia's primary care sector, particularly through collaborative models and rapid innovation.
- The study presents a Learning Health System (LHS) model based on six elements: leadership and governance, data and digital infrastructure, engaged workforce, partnerships, shared values, and system learning culture.
- HealthPathways was identified as a key digital enabler of shared clinical knowledge, supporting rapid updates to clinical guidance and facilitating system-wide alignment in pandemic response.
- PHNs played a pivotal role in convening partnerships across general practice, state health departments, and community health, with the LHS model supporting integration and resilience.
- The study emphasises the need for dedicated infrastructure, trusted relationships, and iterative evaluation to transition from reactive crisis response to sustained learning systems in primary care.
Citation
Forrester, B., Fisher, G., Ellis, L. A., Giddy, A., Smith, C. L., Zurynski, Y., Sanci, L., Graham, K., White, N., & Braithwaite, J. (2025). Moving from crisis response to a learning health system: Experiences from an Australian regional primary care network. Learning Health Systems, 9(2), e10458. https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10458
Topic
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