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Description
The Australian
Government announced the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative as one of
the key elements of the proposed MedicarePlus Package, to be funded
from the 1st July 2004. The MedicarePlus Aged Care
Initiatives encompass the GP Panels Initiative and the
Comprehensive Medical Assessment (CMA).
GP Panels Initiative
Divisions
of General Practice will establish panels (or registers) of GPs willing to
provide routine, urgent and after-hours care to residents of aged care
homes. The GP Panels will
enable GPs to work with aged care homes to
undertake activities
which improve access to
medical care and quality improvement activities (for example, streamlining
GP activities, advising on protocols, and addressing barriers).
They will supplement,
not replace, existing MBS arrangements.
Comprehensive Medical
Assessment
A new MBS
Item to enable GPs to
undertake Comprehensive Medical Assessments (CMAs) of new and existing
residents (if required) of aged care homes is being implemented in
conjunction with this Initiative. Comprehensive Medical Assessments will
allow GPs to better assess exactly what a new or existing resident
requires for their ongoing healthcare. The medical assessment will
provide important information to assist in care planning and managing
medication for residents.
The Division
Divisions
will be funded to undertake the local liaison, development, and
administrative support work for this initiative.
Divisions will be funded to liaise
on these issues, assist in identifying the local needs of aged care
residents and help develop appropriate local responses or solutions, and
undertake administrative support work for this initiative.
Aim of the Program
The aim of the Initiative is to improve access to primary medical care for
residents of aged care homes and to enable GPs to work with aged care
homes to assist with quality improvement strategies for the care of all
residents. The Initiative has been designed to supplement, and not
replace, existing arrangements. Where successful arrangements are already
in place in aged care homes, this Initiative will provide an opportunity
for aged care homes, GPs and Divisions to work together to enhance and
further establish those arrangements. A paramount concern is not to
compromise existing positive partnerships, but rather to support, promote
and further such activity.
Objectives
The Initiative aims to achieve the following:
i
Improved access to
appropriate medical care for all aged care residents including:
§
provision of
comprehensive assessment of medical needs for new and existing residents
as required;
§
general practice
consultations for residents of aged care homes;
§
medical care for
residents whose usual GP arrangements have broken down; and
§
access to emergency
or after hours GP care.
ii
Increased
participation of GPs in aged care initiatives aimed at improving quality
of care, including through:
§
sourcing
and adapting quality care protocols; and
§
GP
participation in quality care committees.
iii
GPs and Divisions
working more effectively with aged care homes to:
§
identify key areas
of concern;
§
implement measures
to address concerns raised; and
§
reduce barriers to
GP involvement in aged care homes.
Australian Government
Department of Health and Ageing, (May 2004), (Draft) Aged Care
GP Panels Initiative Guidelines.
Resources
Advanced
Directives (PowerPoint David Langton -Aged Care weekend Seminar)
Discussion Paper on Advanced Directives
(Short
Version - Discussion Paper on Advanced Directives)
Comprehensive Medical
Assessment (Medical Director Template)
Map of Mornington Peninsula with
nursing home locations
PowerPoint presentation on Aged Care initiative
Medicare Aged Care Initiatives
Divisions of General Practice Information Sheet
Australian Government Department of
Health and Ageing
http://www.health.gov.au/medicare/news/adgpfs04.htm
MedicarePlus Aged Care GP Panels
Initiative
Australian Divisions of General
Practice
http://www.adgp.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=2343
Aged Care Homes
General Practice Divisions Victoria
http://www.gpdv.com.au/gpdv/
Residential Aged Care Facilities
Resources
Newsletter
September 2004 (pdf)
October 2004 (pdf)
November
2004 (pdf)
December
2004 (pdf)
July
2005 (pdf)
October 2005 (pdf)
Medicare Information
MBS
service items relevant to RACF's (pdf)
MPDGP Care Planning Kit (pdf)
Computer
Information
Medical Director for RACF's
Print Compact labels for Medication Charts in Medical Director
MD
instructions v3.pdf instructions for GPs on how to use Medical
Director to print ‘labels’ for Compact Medication Charts
RACGP Silver Book
The Medical Care of
Older Persons in Residential Aged Care Facilities (Silver Book)
guide reflects good practice for the care of older persons in RACFs.
The principles and overarching model of care is still current.
However, the RACGP is currently reviewing this guide and a new
edition should be available in February 2005.
RACGP The Silver Book (http://www.racgp.org.au/document.asp?id=13494)
Residential Medication Management Review
The RMMR Item is in
the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Book (1 Nov 04) on pages 53-54.
The ADGP has advised that The Department is getting close to
releasing more information about how the RMMR is to work - eg, Fact
Sheets, so we can provide more authoritative advice to practices.
Medication Advisory Committee
The Division's Aged
Care Program is looking for opportunities to support GPs
participation in RACFs quality activities, and to encourage an
active partnership between GPs and the RACF staff. One proposal is
to support GP participation in the Medication Advisory Committee, by
reimbursing GPs who attend MACs.
MAC_Description.
pdf.
information on the
role of MAC GP Representative
Contact details
Program Officer Susan Pangbourne
Phone 9769 6133
Fax 9769 6110
Email s.pangbourne@mpdgp.org.au
(Last Updated 08 January
2007) |
