Transforming Primary Care: Developing Health Precincts as Models for Sustainable Integrated Community-Based Healthcare

The paper presents a case study of the Morayfield Health Precinct (MHP), a privately funded, integrated primary care model designed to address health service demands in a low socioeconomic Australian community. The background notes the need for sustainable, patient-centred care models, especially for aging populations and chronic disease. The methods describe a retrospective case study analysis of the MHP's planning, design, and implementation. Key results detail successful elements: pre-planning with community needs analysis and asset mapping; a purpose-built facility with anchor general practitioner (GP) tenants; integration of multidisciplinary services (e.g., specialists, allied health, pharmacy) using a cluster structure; team-based care supported by governance and shared referral networks; and rapid COVID-19 response capabilities due to physical design and tenant collaboration. Sustainability was foundational, supported by an adapted WHO Integrated Person-Centred Care framework. The model includes novel integrations like embedded chiropractic care and the use of assistive technologies. Limitations include that findings are based on a single, privately funded case with retrospective information, and direct patient health outcomes are not measured. Implications suggest this model demonstrates a potentially scalable approach for integrated community-based care, emphasizing governance, collaborative ecosystems, and sustainability as key for future evaluation.