<p>The Winter Strategy – a Multifaceted Integrated Care Intervention to Support People with Chronic and Complex Care Needs during the Australian Winter Period</p>

Introduction: Health care demands increase over the winter period, especially for people with chronic diseases. Hospital avoidance programs have potential to address seasonal surges. Methods: An integrated intervention was provided patients at high risk of hospitalisation during 2017 and 2018 winters in Northern New South Wales, Australia. Patients received increased support including general practice sick day action plans, automated admission notifications practitioner, coordination services. Outcomes were provider patient experience preventable rates. Results: The program enrolled 1244 participating from 37 practices least 12 months follow-up. It associated marked improvements experience. However, when compared a propensity score matched control group there no difference hospital utilisation or emergency presentation Discussion Conclusion: strategy needs well by practitioners patients, but did not translate changes Areas improvement include: strengthening inter-professional engagement between hospital, specialists primary providers, more tailored services complex health needs, expansive set process measures beyond assess impact.