Authors: Niall Johnson; Tony Szabo; Kerryn Viana; Gillian Giles
https://search.informit.org/doi/reader/10.3316/informit.949230845347542
Abstract
Modern medicine is characterised by an increasing expectation that people will receive care that is appropriate, safe and effective. Despite this expectation the safety and quality of health care varies, both across geographic areas and among individual clinicians. Understanding this variation is critical to improving health care. This paper describes the development of the 'Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation' series in both hardcopy and online forms. In November 2015, the Commission launched the first Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation. Developing an atlas for contemporary users required the production of both hardcopy and online versions. The initial online version consisted of text and data files. This was replaced by an interactive form that contained all the text and graphics of the hardcopy along with interactive maps. The online version offers additional functionality such as interactive maps and 'pop ups' that display details of each location when clicked upon. This parallel production has continued for the Second 'Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation' (2017) and for the forthcoming 'Third Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation' (2018).