Key success factors in implementing allied health outreach services

Clinicians who provide outreach services to remote communities often encounter barriers to engaging with local people.1, 2 Factors contributing to poor engagement include unwelcoming health settings, inflexible approaches to service delivery, a sense of alienation, poor understanding of services and referral pathways, long wait lists, inadequate care coordination and mistrust of mainstream health care.1-3 However, there are effective ways of working with people in remote communities, which can build trust and authentic engagement.4-6 This article provides a case study that highlights some key success factors that enabled engagement, and positive outcomes and experiences for people needing to access health and disability services in a remote community.