Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
Summary
Centres of Excellence (CoEs) are often established to fill a gap in existing services for a specific condition, such as for a rare disorder or for conditions where high levels of inter-disciplinary expertise and integration of multi-disciplinary care are required to ensure optimum treatment regimes. Establishing a CoE requires strategic planning; the literature provides guidance on the essential foundations and operational elements for sustainability and meeting continuing standards of excellence.
Evidence examining the effectiveness of ‘centre of excellence’ or ‘co-ordination hub’ approaches for the management of specialised health or disability needs is limited with research still emerging. There was some evidence that well managed CoEs are able to deliver better health outcomes for complex conditions.
In Aotearoa New Zealand there are some comparable specialised services. Of the five services analysed there were alignments to the CoE as a concept. Community leadership, strong public funding partnerships and the ability to quickly respond to health and disability system changes were a visible strength for all of these services.
