| Project Objectives / Summary:
The aim of this project was to investigate the health assessment processes used by GPs under the EPC Item numbers, and the outcome of these processes for other primary health and community health care providers in the City of Greater Bendigo.
Project objectives:
- To describe the various models employed by GPs, in the City of Greater Bendigo, in implementing and conducting health assessments under the EPC MBS items.
- To investigate the outcome of the assessment process in relation to the number of referrals to other primary health care and community health care providers.
- To identify increased collaboration between GPs and other primary health care and community health care providers by the number of case conferences and care planning activities resulting from the assessment process.
- To evaluate the impact of the assessment process on other primary health care and community health care providers by the number of referrals they receive.
- To identify gaps in local service delivery.
Project Collaboration:
The Division collaborated with the Bendigo Health Care.
Project Outcomes:
The project was conducted over the period of late 2000 to late 2001. The main findings were:
- The model of assessment employed by the majority of GPs in the area was that of using a nurse, employed by either the practice of contracted through the Division, to conduct the information collection component of the assessment.
- There were concerns by some community service providers about a third party collecting information for a health assessment.
- Most health assessments were conducted in the person's home.
- The time taken for assessments correlates with the expected norm.
- There is a need to provide improved assessment tools and training in their use.
- The impact of increased referrals to community service providers had not yet been felt but it was considered this would be cumulative.
- The slow uptake of the EPC Items Numbers was not peculiar to Bendigo GPs.
Recommendations:
The tools used by GPs need to be available in electronic formats. This project provides a foundation on which to conduct further study into the production of a package consisting of:
- an electronic health assessment tool;
- a care plan template;
- clinical decision trees and care pathways to assist with care plan development [both with evidence based best practice guidelines & drop boxes to assist decision making];
- a system for planning & participating in case conferencing activities; and
- a recall system for clients due for their annual health assessment.
The Division states that the package could be produced locally but would be appropriate for use throughout Australia and could be distributed on CD Rom. |
