Date: 17 April 2008
Source:
Australia’s health care system may be in for
some positive reform with a model in
integrated health care to be showcased at
the Prime Minister’s 2020 Summit
this weekend.
Jim Varghese, newly-appointed Executive Director of Health
City and Education
City
for Springfield Land Corporation
has been chosen to present Springfield’s ideas
for
health reform at the landmark 2020 Summit.
Mr Varghese said the Health City model, which has been developed in conjunction
with the world-renowned Harvard Medical International, could be used as a
blueprint
for a better national health care system in Australia.
Mr Varghese will be a key player in one of the 10 critical areas identified by
Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd - a long-term national health strategy, which focuses
on the challenges
of preventative health, workforce planning and the ageing
population
Mr Varghese is one of Australia’s most respected and experienced public
servants with over
30 years experience in the public sector, having worked in
leading Queensland and
Victorian Government agencies covering education,
transport, employment and training,
and primary industries.
“Health City is an unrivalled opportunity to do
something different in the demanding health
sector using an integrated approach
that’s never been used before,” said Mr Varghese.
“Health City is unique in many ways, but what’s
particularly important in the model is the
linkage between health and education
and the emphasis on research capability that will
directly benefit patients and
providers.
“I believe there is an urgent need to invest in holistic solutions in health
care and
avoid over-investing in particular silos of health.
“The solution surely lies in integrated service planning with a focus on
wellness and
prevention across all forms of health care – primary, acute,
alternative and transition care.”
Mr Varghese said Health City had a model which would serve as a
“one-stop-shop” for
care, where collective brainpower was concentrated in one
precinct, similar to the
America’s
Silicon Valley technology model.
“We at Greater Springfield would encourage the Federal Government to look at
our proposal
as a unique opportunity where the Harvard Health
City model illustrates
what possible
with creative public/private partnerships between Federal, State
and Local Governments.
“We need to adopt principles of developing partnerships with all stakeholders
and
service providers through all health care services and infrastructure,
which includes
innovative technology and management approaches.”
Greater Springfield will begin construction in
the next few months on Stage One of a
greenfield
site for Health City which will eventually incorporate
450,000m2 of integrated
health care services.
The Harvard Report recommended a Health City with a Private/Public partnership
that
would establish a comprehensive health and wellness campus; all forms of
health care
(primary care, acute care, alternative care), integrated
residential (aged care, retirement
living and hotels), education and research
and E-health.
Springfield Land Corporation believes the Federal government should consider
directing
funding to establish this fully integrated healthcare model in one of
the fastest growth
egions in Australia
- the Western Corridor between Brisbane and Ipswich.
Greater Springfield’s Health City
will provide services for an immediate population catchment
of 180,000, with
the future catchment expected to rise to 350,000 by 2020.
“We have to learn the lessons of the past to produce a health care system for the
future, especially given the ageing population and the rising cost of health
care,”
Mr Varghese said.
“If we don’t there are several critical front-line effects with the main ones
being higher
healthcare costs, reduced patient care satisfaction and reduced
confidence in our health
care system and a system that will struggle to deliver
quality care.
“We can do better and we must do better and we believe that the Health City
model offers
many of the solutions for governments around Australia.”
Mr Varghese will travel to Canberra for the 2020
Summit, which will be co-chaired by
Mr Rudd and
Professor Glyn Davis, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne.
-end-
About Springfield Land Corporation
Springfield Land Corporation is the master-planner of the $15 billion plus
2860 hectare
Greater Springfield project. Acquired in 1992, Greater Springfield
encompasses four suburbs
and a CBD area. With $600+ million being spent
annually on the Greater Springfield
project, and three families moving to
Greater Springfield every day, it is no wonder it is one
of the fastest growing
regions in Australia.
Additional information about Springfield
Land Corporation and its Greater
Springfield project is available
at www.greaterspringfield.com.au
<http://www.greaterspringfield.com.au/
For media enquiries contact:
Jodie Curtis
Marketing Services Executive
Springfield Land Corporation Pty Ltd
Tel: (07) 3819 9902
Mb: 0409 725 907
Email: j.curtis@murgroup.com.au
Visit www.greaterspringfield.com.au <http://www.greaterspringfield.com.au>
Ian Eckersley
Principal Consultant
Three Plus
Tel: (07) 3503 5700
Mob: 0430 102922
Email: ian@threeplus.com.au
