Current Initiatives

• Ongoing support for members as state activity continues to fluctuate around border closures and elective surgery restrictions
• Timely distribution of critical updates from the various jurisdictions
• Continued contact with the Department of Health regarding the vaccination roll-out, sharing of information and coordination of webinars
• COVID-19 Google Group has continued to provide valuable support amongst members on topics COVID and non-COVID related
• Chapters have embraced Zoom technology for their meetings which has enabled the CEO to attend all meetings and provide detailed updates to each State/Territory Chapter

PHI REFORMS

Second Wave PHI Reforms

• Met with the Department of Health regarding concerns over Type C which included discussions with the AMA
• Provided detailed submission on all four of the reforms to which members contributed data/content, particularly regarding the mental health reform
• Rehabilitation, mental health and age extension reforms were seen as beneficial to the day hospital sector

Prostheses List Reforms

• Met with the Department of Health in January to provide feedback on why the proposed DRG model for prostheses reform was not suitable to the day hospital sector
• Ongoing engagement with AMA and APHA on this topic as well as the threat to the General Miscellaneous Category of the Prostheses List
• Detailed submission provided on both proposed reforms, comprising member data
• Member data presented in two formats – by facility and cost per specialty to the Federal Minister for Health, Department of Health and the AMA.
• Letter sent to Minister Hunt expressing concerns not only with the proposed funding methodology for prostheses but also the threat to the General Miscellaneous Category of the Prostheses List, which would have a severe impact on Day hospitals
• Day Hospitals Australia was pleased with the announcement in the Federal Budget to retain the Prostheses List
• A proposed framework for private sector engagement to modernise and improve the Prostheses List was put to members of the private sector including Day Hospitals Australia, to allow feedback on the proposed improvement objectives for each section of the private health care sector. Once these objectives have been confirmed by the Department of Health we will advise members.
• The Australian Government Department of Health is now inviting further feedback on the proposed changes to the Private Health Insurance Prostheses List.

ACCREDITATION

• DHA has been exploring alternative accreditation systems that may be more fit-for-purpose than the existing model
• Board has met with American Association for Accreditation for Ambulatory Facilities, AAAAFS and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Surgery AAAHC to discuss their accreditation models and processes
• Presentation from AAAHC at our National conference

NEW ALLIANCES

• ANZCA Perioperative Medicine Steering Committee
• DayCOR Registry – continued this relationship which commenced last year in support of important post anaesthetic data collection
• Federal AMA President, Omar Khorshid, meeting with the Board in June and participated in a Panel Discussion at the Conference
• IAAS membership now extended to 2 representatives from Day Hospitals Australia – Dr John Napoli and Jane Griffiths

STRATEGIC PLAN

• The current Day Hospitals Australia Strategic Plan plan expires on 30th June 2021
• DHA appreciates the strategic plan suggestions provided by many members in the February Member Satisfaction Survey
• A plan for 2021 – 2024 is currently being developed by the Board and CEO with assistance from an external facilitator and will be available to members in the coming months

MEMBER SURVEY

• >91% respondents felt that the CEO and Staff are available to assist, support and advise on topical matters
• >93% respondents felt supported during the peak of COVID and ongoing
• >95% respondents felt that they are provided with timely updates on critical activity occurring within the sector
• Members greatly appreciated that renewal fees were not increased during this time and that payment options were made available
• >90% of respondents felt that there were opportunities provided for them to stay connected and informed via zoom meetings, Google Groups, webinars etc.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

• Day Hospitals Australia National Conference 2021 took place online from 8 – 10 September 2021
• The Conference explored new scope and advancement for the Day Hospital sector and its increasingly important place in the Australian Health Care system, and the theme “Innovation on the back of Recovery” reflects the position and opportunities for day hospitals
• Keynote speakers include: Scott Anthony, Mike Hardie, Richard de Crespigny, Prof Doug McWhinnie, Dr Ian Jackson, and many more.
• Visit www.dayhospitalsaustraliaconference.com to register or for more information