Following the success of the inaugural Future of Health Seminar in 2016, we will again be holding this Seminar in Melbourne on 8 June 2017.

The theme for 2017 will be “Finding the right balance”.  

Finding the right balance is a key challenge to building a sustainable health system, whether that is the balance between the public and private system, the balance between insurance versus other funding methods, the balance between greater choice versus simplicity, between increasing the supply of services versus eliminating “wastage” or indeed any other imbalances.  As the health system evolves, new areas of tension are emerging that will challenge the sector.  This includes finding the right balance between individual privacy versus sharing of personal data, or the balance between more information on providers versus helping patients make informed decisions.

Plenary 1: The Current Balance

Hon Jillian Skinner
Stephen Duckett

We live in an era of an ageing population, rapid innovation in medical technology and a society that demands best medical care possible. Australian heath system is fragmented and has many players in it. Any practical solution for a sustainable health system invariably needs to find the right balance where these players coexist to maximise the health and welfare of all Australians. The speakers in this plenary will explore the current balance (or imbalance) in various parts of the Australian health system and how different balances will affect the sustainability of overall health costs and the health outcomes for all Australians.

Plenary 2: Customer Centred Health Care

Dr Bastian Seidel 
Anthony Lowe 
Dr Linda Swan

The Australian health system is a complex organism of multiple funders of both private and public providers. Health care providers - both medical and allied health interact with patients at primary and secondary level but good communication between providers is the sad exception rather than the common rule. Care is fragmented with the patient attending multiple providers across suburbs, cities and even state lines with a high likelihood that no single practitioner has a comprehensive knowledge (let alone responsibility) of the holistic health picture of the individual patient.

This plenary session seeks an understanding of current attempts by government and healthcare providers to establish care that is patient centred, and some patient opinions of their current care experiences.

Plenary 3: PHI Reforms - The Challenges Ahead

Dwayne Crombie
Matthew Koce
Michelle McPherson

Can reforms deliver the change needed to address the concerns some people have about private health insurance today?  What are the competing visions and how do these reforms attempt to strike the right balance?  Can the industry afford not to reform?  In this current economic and political climate, should we be bold or should we tread carefully?  With the impending announcements of PHI reforms, our speakers will give their reactions, and the challenges that lie ahead.  Join us for what should be a stimulating discussion on how to grab these reforms by the horns to create meaningful and worthwhile change.

Plenary 4:  Health Analytics & Big Data - Embracing the Change

Richard Hurley
Julia Cooper and Margaret Bennett
Mireille Campbell and Sean Heng

Our healthcare system is increasingly awash with data. Data covers every aspect of healthcare from accessibility of services, to quality of care, funding and health outcomes. In this session we will hear from several health analytics practitioners, working in different areas of the system, who will outline their recent work. Including; using analytics to examine clinical pathways of patients with cancer to improve best practice treatment guidelines.