Healthcare is a vitally important function for a society to thrive. It supports individual well-being, enables economic productivity, and helps create stability by preventing diseases and addressing public health issues. Healthcare is fundamental to the quality of life all people deserve, and when properly executed, it can help prevent minor health problems from becoming serious chronic conditions with major lifestyle implications.
Community health is a branch of healthcare that focuses on the well-being of a specific cohort of people to promote, protect, and preserve their health. Community health programs are wide-ranging and can address a broad range of health concerns through a variety of healthcare professionals, all with the desired outcome of improving public well-being.
What are community health programs?
Community health centres (CHCs) operate throughout Australia and aim to provide health services to local populations. These centres often house a range of healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, dentists, speech pathologists, counsellors, social workers, case managers, and those who have completed requisite courses like a Master of Public Health.
Community health programs are designed to help residents of specific geographical areas. They are also often targeted at those who have or are at risk of the poorest health, those who need assistance with economic or social needs, and those in rural communities where access to proper healthcare is not always readily available. Community health providers generally offer affordable health care, and Health Care Card holders may be provided a further discount or the ability to access some services free of charge.
Key principles of effective community health programs
There are many different kinds of community health programs and initiatives, however, there are a few shared components required to execute them effectively.
- Interconnectedness: Community health recognises that a person’s mental health, physical health, social connections, and environmental circumstances can play a role and influence a person’s well-being, so health care plans require an interconnected approach.
- Collaboration: Community health services may need to work with other primary health providers, community groups, or health agencies to ensure collaborative care.
- Community participation: Encouraging the community to actively participate in health initiatives to help increase awareness, engage individuals, and foster better health outcomes.
Types of community health programs
There are many services provided by community health that are often dependent on the needs of the local area they serve, however, overarching goals apply to most: improving access to healthcare, preventative health and education, and addressing social determinants of health.
Improving access to healthcare
Many community initiatives are designed to help bridge gaps and improve access to medical care, particularly in underserved areas. This can, in part, be achieved by utilising mobile clinics and other outreach programs to provide flexible and viable options for treating vulnerable or isolated groups who do not have access to other health services. Examples of improved access can include mobile dental vans deployed to the community or in schools, roving drug and alcohol education programs, and even mobile doctor clinics.
Solutions can also be quite specific to particular communities. In Central Australia, a new mobile clinic run by the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress is ensuring First Nations people are receiving better health services via a custom-built 4WD that supports the treatment, education, and management of diabetes in remote communities.
Another common barrier rural communities face regarding access to healthcare is transportation, particularly for those with limited mobility. Programs like the Community Transport, Non-Emegency Patient Transport (NEPT), or the Flying Doctor Community Transport all provide transport services to disadvantaged areas or for non-urgent medical episodes.
Preventative health and education
Preventative health and education within the community health sector focuses on proactive measures to maintain and avoid the escalation of health risks, including illness, injury, and early death. Preventative measures can help lead to better outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and improved quality of life, and so there is a strong focus on encouraging routine check-ups and screenings for common health concerns like diabetes or cancer.
Education to promote health literacy and empower individuals to make better-informed decisions regarding their health is another proactive initiative to ensure the long-term health of the community. Health education can be delivered at an individual level via home visits or personal communication; at a community level via workshops, lectures, webinars, or discussions on relevant health matters; or at a population level via large-scale advertising, radio programs, print media, or social media.
Preventative health and education activity is often driven by the Australian Government’s National Preventative Health Strategy, which outlines the overarching, long-term approach to prevention over the next ten years.
Addressing social determinants of health
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are non-medical factors that can influence the health outcomes of individuals. This can be related to socioeconomic status, education, housing, and access to resources. SDOH can have a much larger impact on a person’s health than the medical care of individual lifestyle choices, so community health must consider these factors.
Managing SDOH can lead to improved health outcomes and reduced health inequalities, but it involves a thorough understanding of the issues at hand. Engaging with the community directly to identify their needs and priorities is one way community health can help with this, as well as working collaboratively with other healthcare stakeholders like local providers, social service agencies, and community organisations that have the knowledge and understanding of what the community needs.
Other ways SDOH can be addressed include through policy and advocacy to promote social equity, reviewing and removing barriers to healthcare experienced by the community, and better management and allocation of funds and resources to programs that address SDOH that are relevant to the local area, including affordable housing programs, transportation, and food security.