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Hospital Access Development Program 1998-99

Guidelines/ Submission for Funding

December 1998

1.0 BACKGROUND

The Department's 1998/99 Policy and Funding Guidelines for Public Hospitals notes that appropriate access of patients to elective surgery, emergency and critical care services is an essential attribute of a high quality health care system. In 1998/99, the Department introduced the Hospital Access Program (HAP) to bring together the former Emergency Services and Elective Surgery Enhancement Programs and a new program component designed to improve critical care bed availability. This approach recognises the interrelated nature of demand management across these three areas and emphasises the need for an integrated approach by Network/hospital management to service delivery, including bed management, in order to attain a balance in meeting the demand for services in these three areas.

The HAP operates through the provision of bonus funding which is paid to Networks/hospitals quarterly to reward hospitals for the achievement of performance targets and to facilitate service development. Where targets are not met, the bonus payment is adjusted in line with the Department's 1998/99 Policy and Funding Guidelines for public hospitals. Unallocated bonus funds are pooled for expenditure on projects under the HADP.

The HADP provides one-off funding for projects which aim to improve patient access to elective surgery, emergency and critical care services by fostering more integrated approaches to demand management. Grants are available for salary and non-salary items from $50,000 to a maximum of $100,000 per project.

The funds available for allocation under the HADP in 98/99 are largely determined by the amount of unallocated bonus funds from HAP. Thus, the exact amount of HADP funds available is not known but it is expected that approximately $2M may be available for HADP projects in 1998/99. At an average cost of $80,000 this means approximately 25 HADP projects may be approved in 1998/99.

Agencies interested in applying for HADP funds for 1998/99 are invited to submit applications as specified in this document.

2.0 AIMS

The HADP will provide funds for projects which aim to improve patient access to elective surgery, emergency and critical care services by facilitating more integrated approaches to demand management in the these three areas.

3.0 PROJECT PROPOSALS

Proposals are encouraged which focus on improving the coordination of the movement of patients through the hospital and on streamlining administrative processes which are likely to lead to improvements in bed capacity. For example, projects may focus on the following aspects of patient coordination:

interface between emergency and inpatient care services;
interface between hospital inpatient care and post-inpatient care;
integration of hospital processes to streamline patient movement through the hospital episode;
bed management practices;
the use of step-down beds or other mechanisms for 'tailoring' care to patient need;
the scheduling of patients to operating theatres;
admission and discharge procedures, both clinical and administrative, which have an impact on bed management;
data/information management and/or communication between different areas of the hospital; and
integration across campuses.

Grants are intended for discrete projects which can commence in the current financial year and which can achieve a sustained improvement in patient access. Submissions seeking funding for projects which are likely to require funding beyond the period of the grant will only be considered if the hospital or network indicates its preparedness to provide that ongoing funding.

4.0 ELIGIBILITY FOR HADP GRANTS

Eligibility for funding under the HADP will be limited to Health Care Networks and hospitals which receive funding under the HAP for at least two of the three components: elective surgery, emergency and critical care services.

5.0 SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

5.1 Proposals should be submitted in the format described in the 'Submission for Funding' attached to these Guidelines. A cover sheet to the Submission which includes a checklist has also been provided. Proposals which are submitted in a different format will not be considered.

5.2 Information Technology aspects of any proposal should be endorsed by the Health Care Network or rural regional Chief Information Officer.

5.3 Proposals should be signed by the hospital/Health Care Network Chief Executive Officer.

5.4 Submissions are limited to 3 per metropolitan network or 2 per non-networked metropolitan hospital. Submissions from hospitals in the Departmental rural regions are limited to 2 per rural region. Not all worthwhile projects may be able to be funded because of the level of funds available. Multiple submissions must be clearly ranked in order of priority by the relevant hospital/network and rural DHS regional office.

5.5 Where multiple projects are proposed, a cover note from the CEO of the hospital/network must be attached which identifies the relative priority of the proposals for the hospital/network.

6.0 SELECTION CRITERIA :

Submissions will be assessed against the extent to which they demonstrate the following:

the potential to contribute to improved demand management practices either at the individual hospital level or across hospitals/networks;
the extent to which project will result in improved integration across areas;
involvement of staff with the necessary skills/knowledge/experience to undertake the project;
the extent to which the outcomes are measurable and attributable to the project;
sustainability of practice change once funding ceases;
extent of support for the project within the hospital/network; and · identified timelines.

7.0 ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS AND PAYMENT OF FUNDS

7.1 Proposals will be assessed by the Acute Health Division of the Department of Human Services. Lodgement of applications will be acknowledged and clarification may subsequently occur with organisations seeking funds.

7.2 Proposals will be prioritised and the number funded will depend on available funds.

7.3 Approvals will be made by the Director, Acute Health Division and are expected to be made progressively from March 1999.

7.4 Original or amended proposals will form attachments to a Variation to Health Service Agreements to be signed by the Department of Human Services and networks/hospitals prior to funds being provided.

7.5 Successful applications will receive 80% of their funding in March 1999 and the remainder on satisfactory project completion.

8.0 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

8.1 Following approval, auspice organisations will be required to provide the following:

a progress report mid way through the project's implementation (if duration of project is over 6 months). The report should describe progress to date, including any variations to the project timelines, methodology and processes; highlight achievements; measure ongoing performance against targets as defined in original submission; and expenditure to date.
a final report at the conclusion of the project. The report should describe the project and its implementation in detail; articulate outcomes and achievement against targets nominated in project proposal; outline how the project will improve demand management across elective surgery, emergency and critical care services; and include a statement of expenditure.

9.0 LODGEMENT OF SUBMISSIONS

9.1 A copy of the HADP Guidelines and the Submission for Funding was able to be downloaded as a Microsoft Word 6 document from the internet for amendment.

9.2 Closing date for submissions: COB Friday 29 January 1999.

9.3 Envelopes must be endorsed with: Submissions for HADP Funding 1998/99

9.4 Proposals from metropolitan networks or non-networked metropolitan hospitals should be forwarded to:

Ms Angela Edwards,
Access Unit, Acute Health Division,
Department of Human Services,
PO Box 4057, MELBOURNE 3001

9.5 Proposals from hospitals in the Department's non-metropolitan regions should be forwarded to Regional Directors.

9.6 Enquiries may be directed to Ms Angela Edwards on 03 9616 8441 or fax 03 9616 8347 or Email angela.edwards@dhs.vic.gov.au

Updated 1 December 2001

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