Improvement in rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease management and prevention using a health centre-based continuous quality improvement approach

Table 3 Characteristics of participating health care centres

Health centre	Approximate population	Approximate number of people with ARF/RHD	Location of health centre	Climate (tropical, sub-tropical, desert)	Management: (Aboriginal medical service [AMS], Government)	Record keeping (Electronic, paper, both)	Full-time doctor (Yes, No)
A	1160	24	Remote community, 6 hour drive on mostly sealed road	Desert	AMS	Both	No (year 1)
A	1160	24	Remote community, 6 hour drive on mostly sealed road	Desert	AMS	Both	Yes (years 2–3)
B	600	18	Remote community, 2 hour drive on mostly unsealed road	Desert	AMS	Both	Yes
C	1500	30	Remote island community, 2–3 hours flying time to major service centre; weekly barge service	Tropical	Government	Paper	No
D	Main community – 115	21	Remote community, 2.5 hour drive on sealed road to major service centre	Sub-tropical	Government	Both (transition from paper to electronic during study)	No
D	Including outstations serviced by clinic - 600	21		Sub-tropical	Government	Both (transition from paper to electronic during study)	No
E	9022	42	Regional service centre	Tropical	AMS	Electronic	Yes
F	990	14	Remote community, 20 minute drive to small town	Tropical	Government	Paper	No

ISSN: 1472-6963