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Public hospital-based outpatient clinics are a
core part of the acute health system. Along with emergency
departments, they act as a major pathway for people to access
inpatient care, including elective surgery. Outpatient clinics also
perform an important preventative role through the early diagnosis
and management of medical conditions, which may reduce the demand
for inpatient services.
The audit points to a need for the Department of
Human Services to improve its strategic planning activities for
outpatient services, given its fundamental and growing importance
in the healthcare chain.
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