Application of primary health care standards to a developing community health group: a rural case history

The development of community health groups in rural settings involving private general practitioners and other health care workers has been relatively rare. This case history examines the activities of such a group and the views of its participants over a 12-month period. It considers whether the principles of primary care and the relevant Community Health Accreditation and Standards Program criteria can be applied in such a setting. The centre was able to meet most of the primary care criteria; however, some other important elements that could be helpful to further developments emerged in the research process. These included the sensitivity of a rural community to an individual case or patient focus in a case conference setting and the high level of acceptance of population or healthy-community goals. Other key issues included the strength (in terms of advocacy for health service provision) of an intersectoral group in a rural setting. Positive benefits were perceived to accrue from the increased professional and intersectoral communication. The role of the private general practitioner was focal, but the participants did not believe this necessarily had to be a leadership role. The initiation of such a conference and its leadership could be undertaken by any interested and appropriately skilled member. Organisation, administration, continuity and cost are important practical issues which need to be examined in early stages of development and taken into account in evaluation.