Does community health reduce hospital utilisation? Evidence from Australia

Abstract

Abstract Background International evidence on the impact of community health on health outcomes is generally positive; however, the effect on reducing hospitalisations is mixed and often depends on the specific settings and institutions. Evidence from Australia is limited. This study assesses how community health affect hospital care utilisation under the Victorian Community Health Program, which provides a range of services to priority populations at risk of poorer health under a social model of care. Methods To account for differences between community he..