Understanding the Australian Health Care System (edX)

This course will enable you to answer questions such as:

- Why are there multiple layers within this health care system?

- What are these layers and how are they funded?

- What is the role of insurance in this system?

- How are medicines regulated and made available in Australia?

- What services and roles are available in the Australian health care system?

- How can I facilitate patient journeys through the Australian health care system?

- You will engage in many activities throughout this course to explore these and other questions.

What you'll learn

On completion of this course, you should be able to:

- Explain the structure and layers of the Australian health care system and identify services and practitioners within it

- Outline approaches to maintaining standards and how medicines and therapeutic goods are managed

- Outline the roles of financing, risk and insurances and identify patient expenses

- Map and facilitate a patient journey within the Australian health care system

- Have skills to access reliable, up-to-date information about the Australian health care system

Syllabus

Section 1: Health System Structure

Explores the multiple layers of care within the Australian health care system.

Section 2: Funding and Medicare

An overview of financing and how the cost of health care may impact on individual patients as well as society.

Section 3: Insurance and Health

An introduction to the types of insurance that impact on payment for health care services.

Section 4: People and Roles

Explores the range of services available and roles of people working within the system, including community care, hospitals and other health-related facilities.

Section 5: Health Landscapes

An identification of some of the ways in which Australia's geographical, cultural and historical landscapes may impact upon the current system.

Section 6: Standards and Access

An outline of the regulation and maintenance of standards within the Australian health care system and how each of these impact on patient safety.

Section 7: Medicines and Therapeutic Goods

A description of the processes and authorities / committees involved in the regulation of medicines and other therapeutic goods in Australia and the relevant funding sources, including costs to patients and to society.

Section 8: Mapping and Facilitating Journeys

An overview of strategies for mapping and facilitating a patient’s journey through the Australian health care system.