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Aged Care
The Aged Care program has been disbanded. Click here for information on the current Rural Palliative Care Project in partnership with the Riverland Division of General Practice.
The Aged Care GP Panels Initiative commenced in July 2004 and is being rolled out through Divisions of General Practice nationwide. The Initiative was developed in response to the increasing difficulty of aged care homes to retain the services of GPs to provide regular consultations to residents.
The Aged Care GP Panels Initiative commenced in July 2004 and is being rolled out through Divisions of General Practice nationwide. The Initiative was developed in response to the increasing difficulty of aged care homes to retain the services of GPs to provide regular consultations to residents.
Only a small proportion (16%) of GPs provide services to aged care homes, and this proportion is shrinking, while the number of aged care homes and residents are increasing. In recognition of the disparity, lack of adequate provision of GP services to residents of aged care homes, and likelihood that these problems would worsen without intervention, the Australian Government launched the Initiative.
The initiative involves incentives to attract and retain GPs in aged care homes and to reimburse those doctors who are providing services beyond the Medicare Benefits Schedule. The aims of the Initiative are:
- To improve access to appropriate medical care for all aged care residents;
- To increase participation of GPs in aged care initiatives aimed at improving quality of care; and
- GPs and Divisions of General Practice working more effectively with aged care homes.
The Murray Mallee General Practice Network is working collaboratively with GPs and aged care homes to identify strategies to increase GP service provision to residents. It also aims to increase GP participation in aged care homes, to maximise the efficient use of GP time, thereby improving patient access to GPs.
This work also includes facilitating access to effective Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the care needs of RACF patients.
Contact: Noel Johncock
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