Tools for priority setting: lessons from South Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This paper provides an overview of the process and tools used to develop and implement a priority setting framework for the Clinical Senate of South Australia. Established as a clinical advisory group to the Minister and Department of Health, the Clinical Senate recognised the need for an open priority setting process to fairly assign planning resources to the large number of clinical issues that needed to be addressed. DISCUSSION: Using a workbook, developed from the literature and evidence related to priority setting, agreement was reached on the use, components and structure of the priority setting process. The final products included a Gap Finder Tool and a Priority Setting Framework. SUMMARY: This paper describes the process used to develop the priority setting tools. Decision makers in other organisations can use similar processes and tools to develop or enhance their priority Setting processes.