Strengthening Care for Children Using a Virtual Integrated General Practitioner-Pediatrician Model of Primary Care (SUSTAIN): Protocol for a Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Australia's health care system is under pressure. Pediatric referrals to public hospital emergency and outpatient departments have increased recently, overburdening emergency services and resulting in extended waiting times for nonurgent pediatric care. Children living outside metropolitan areas are disproportionately affected. Integrated models of care with pediatricians collaborating with general practitioners (GPs) in their practices have been evaluated in the United Kingdom and Australia. Results are promising for quality of care improvement and reducing referrals to hospitals. GPs and pediatricians found the model feasible, knowledge- and confidence-boosting. In-person pediatric-GP support is resource-intensive, limiting scalability and sustainability.

Objective<

SUBMITTER: Meyers Morris T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12808869 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature