Since 1996, the AMA has been actively working with the private and public mental health sectors through the Stratgeic Planning Group for Private Psychiatric Services (SPGPPS) . This private mental health alliance is convened by the AMA and Chaired by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Strategic Planning Group for Private Psychiatric Services (SPGPPS)
The SPGPPS is the peak mental health alliance that brings together diverse stakeholders to identify and agree on issues directed at improving mental health services in the Australian private sector. This alliance is a strong partnership between the following stakeholders.
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Australian Medical Association (AMA)
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Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)
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Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
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Australian Private Hospitals Association Limited (APHA)
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Australian Health Insurance Association (AHIA)
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Australia Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA)
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Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA)
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Mental health consumers and their carers
The alliance seeks to not only better inform each stakeholder's own policy processes, but also to reach agreement on actions that will improve practice and better integrate mental health care across the private and public sectors. The SPGPPS and its Working Groups meet regularly to work toward achieving these goals, particularly in relation to the following key areas that are critical to the provision of high quality private sector mental health services.
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Participation of private sector consumers and carers.
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The funding and uptake of innovative models of service delivery that have been shown to be effective and feasible.
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Flexibility of funding arrangements so that the implementation of appropriate models of care is not inhibited.
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Strong linkages, co-ordination, and continuity of care between GPs, Psychiatrists and private hospitals.
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The quality, availability and utilisation of information regarding private sector mental health services.
Centralised Data Management Service
In 2001, the AMA co-ordinated the establishment of the SPGPPS's Centralised Data Management Service (CDMS) to improve the quality, availability and utilisation of information regarding private sector mental health services through the implementation of a National Model for the Collection and Analysis of a Minimum Data Set with Outcome Measures for Private, Hospital-based, Psychiatric Services. Over 90% of all Australian private hospitals with psychiatric beds (Hospitals) are participating in the National Model, which enables those Hospitals to evaluate and monitor the quality and effectiveness of the care they provide.
National Network Of Private Psychiatric Sector Consumers And Carers
In 2003, the AMA, RANZCP, APHA, AHIA and beyondblue financially supported the establishment of the National Network of Private Psychiatric Sector Consumers and Carers, to improve the participation of mental health consumers and their carers in private sector mental health services. The National Network, through the establishment of State and Territory-based committees, is working to better involve consumers and their carers in policy decisions around the design, delivery and evaluation of private sector mental health services, and to be an effective advocate of their rights and responsibilities.
The work of the SPGPPS, its CDMS, and National Network is supported by the AMA through the SPGPPS Secretariat, located at the offices of the Federal AMA in Canberra. The SPGPPS website is located at: www.spgpps.com.au.