Commissioning

Commissioning

How we approach system redesign, improvement and commissioning

By working closely with health professionals, consumers and carers and using health related data, we identify emerging community needs and gaps in the health care system.

This Strategic Commissioning Framework provides the principles and guidance EMPHN use to work with stakeholders when designing and commissioning health services to meet community need.


The Framework is underpinned by EMPHN’s Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 which outlines the organisation’s vision and sets an ambitious plan to transform the primary health care sector in EMPHN’s catchment. The Board has identified five strategic priorities and related transformative strategies:

1. Addressing health gaps and inequalities

  • Listen to the consumer voice and design new mental health and chronic disease management approached that are truly person-centred

2. Enhancing primary care

  • Support and encourage primary care to adopt collaborative interdisciplinary care approached that are person-centred
  • Increase use of practice-based evidence

3. Leveraging digital health, data and technology

  • Encourage health information continuity between providers

4. Working in partnerships to enable an integrated service system

  • Ensure commissioning and system change strategies encourage integration from a consumer perspective

5. A high performing organisation

  • Build a positive culture of high performance

The Commissioning Framework provides EMPHN employees and consumers, providers and other stakeholders with a shared and transparent approach to decision making in an environment of collaboration and co-design.

Commissioning at Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network expresses our values of leadership, understanding, outcomes and collaboration. A continuous improvement approach has been adopted as the Commissioning Framework, and this is underpinned by key principles.

Commissioning at EMPHN:

  • Is informed by an understanding of the gaps in local service provision. This understanding is based on an analysis of quantifiable data and consumer experience. It recognises that developing a response to identified need should involve co-design with consumers and local service providers (the needs based principle).
  • Begins with the best available evidence of what will improve consumer outcomes, and service improvement is informed by ongoing collection of data and analysis of program outcomes. We conduct rigorous evaluation, published for major initiatives, to contribute to available evidence (the evidence principle).
  • Aims to strengthen our integrated primary care system. We commission services to maintain and build the capabilities of local primary care providers (the strengthening local networks principle).
  • Is accompanied by rigorous monitoring of commissioned projects to ensure the best outcomes for consumers as well as value for money (the probity, consumer focus and value principle).

To view more details on commissioning, see here.