Given the current level of evidence and the decision maker's threshold price, there exists a minimum (threshold) price acceptable to the company. If the decision maker's threshold price exceeds the company's, then current evidence is sufficient since any price between the thresholds is acceptable to both. On the other hand, if the decision maker's threshold price is lower than the company's, then no price is acceptable to both and the company's optimal strategy is to commission additional research. The methods are illustrated using a recent example from the literature.

Methods. Lower-limb amputee rehabilitation separations between 2004 and 2010 were identified using AROC impairment codes 5.3-5.7.1 Analysis was conducted by year, impairment code, Australian National Sub-acute and Non-Acute Patient (AN-SNAP) classification (S2-224, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor(Mot) score 72-91; S2-225, FIM (Mot) score 14-71) and states of Australia.

Results. Mean length of stay (LOS) for all lower-limb amputee episodes was 36.1 days (95% confidence interval (CI): 35.4-36.9). Majority of episodes were unilateral below knee (63.6%), males (71.8%) with a mean age of 67.9 years (95% CI: 67.6-68.3). Year-on-year analysis revealed a trend for increasing LOS and decreasing age. Analysis by impairment code demonstrated no significant difference in rehabilitation outcomes. Analysis by AN-SNAP found that LOS was 16.2 days longer for S2-225 than for S2-224 (95% CI: 14.7-17.8,P < 0.001), andFIM(Mot) change was 12.0 points higher for S2-225 than for S2-224 (95% CI: 11.5-12.6, P < 0.001). Analysis by states revealed significant variation in LOS, FIM (Mot) change and FIM (Mot) efficiency which may be associated with variations in organisation of rehabilitation services across states.

Conclusion. Although amputees represented a comparatively small proportion of all rehabilitation episodes in Australia, their LOS was significant. Unlike many other rehabilitation conditions, there was no evidence of decreasing LOS over time. AN-SNAP classes were effective in distinguishing rehabilitation outcomes, and could potentially be used more effectively in planning rehabilitation programs.

The importance of 'impeccable' clinical assessment has been understood from the very beginning of the modern hospice movement, along with the need for 'exquisite' attention to detail. While these definitions may be disputed in the palliative care movement of the 21st century the underlying principle that quality, patient -centred, holistic care begins with good assessment cannot be disputed. The NSAP Quality Report (NSAP 2011) revealed that clinical assessment was identified by two-thirds of palliative care services as a priority for improvement. Clinical assessment data is routinely collected by the Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC) to report service performance against national benchmarks in clinical care, and is used to drive improvement effort.

This presentation will explore the links between clinical assessment and improved quality of care for people approaching and reaching the end of life - a shared commitment and collaboration between PCOC and Calvary Health, Aged and Community Care services. The use of the validated assessment tools utilised by PCOC to support quality improvement initiatives for the care of people approaching and reaching the end of life within Calvary services will be described.

The workshops were introduced in an attempt to improve the ability of the sector to meet the national benchmarks. We are seeing an improved trend towards meeting the benchmarks since the introduction of the workshops. However the focus of this presentation will be the increased understanding of the assessment tools post workshop as evidenced by evaluation feedback.

As part of the clinical validation of the RUIS this study aims to provide comparisons with other short scales used to assess urinary incontinence: the International Consultation of Incontinence - Short Form (ICIQ-SF) scale, the UDI-6 and the ISI.

Methods Two theories informed the study: (1) 'candidacy', which explores "the ways in which people's eligibility for care is jointly negotiated between individuals and health services"; and (2) kanyini or 'holding', a Central Australian philosophy which describes the principle and obligations of nurturing and protecting others. A structured health systems assessment, locally adapted from Chronic Care Model domains, was administered via group interviews with 37 health staff in six AMSs and one government Indigenous-led health service. Data were thematically analysed.

Results Staff emphasised AMS health care was different to private general practices. Consistent with kanyini, community governance and leadership, community representation among staff, and commitment to community development were important organisational features to retain and nurture both staff and patients. This was undermined, however, by constant fear of government funding for AMSs being withheld. Staff resourcing, information systems and high-level leadership were perceived to be key drivers of health care quality. On-site specialist services, managed by AMS staff, were considered an enabling strategy to increase specialist access. Candidacy theory suggests the above factors influence whether a service is 'tractable' and 'navigable' to its users. Staff also described entrenched patient discrimination in hospitals and the need to expend considerable effort to reinstate care. This suggests that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are still constructed as 'non-ideal users' and are denied from being 'held' by hospital staff.

Conclusions Some new policy initiatives (workforce capacity strengthening, improving chronic care delivery systems and increasing specialist access) have potential to address barriers highlighted in this study. Few of these initiatives, however, capitalise on the unique mechanisms by which AMSs 'hold' their users and enhance their candidacy to health care. Kanyini and candidacy are promising and complementary theories for conceptualising health care access and provide a potential framework for improving systems of care.