Rural Primary & Allied Health
Aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people in rural and remote areas through increased access to allied health and primary health care services. Individual allied health and primary health care services. Individual allied health clinics as well as group education sessions focusing on chronic disease and diabetes are provided.
The Great Southern GP Network is committed to encouraging and assisting in the development of a comprehensive range of allied health services in the Great Southern region. Methods in achieving this include:
- Identification of primary health service gaps.
- Coordination in applying for Commonwealth and State programs to meet the gaps.
- Support for postgraduate learning and undergraduate training for allied health in the Region.
- Investigation and encouragement of a range of funding sources for allied health / nursing services.
- Where gaps exist, identification of allied health and nursing practitioners willing to relocate to the Region and support their move.
- Provision of an easy pathway to allied health services / nursing services by assisting to establish team care arrangements.
- Establishment and support for clinics where service gaps exist.
The Great Southern GP Network currently provides a number of allied health services which include:
Dietetics
Great Southern GP Network's Dietitians provide consultations to patients in Albany and outreach towns within the Great Southern region. This service can either be via a health professional referral or self-referral.
Dietitians can be consulted for the following types of conditions:
- Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, Gestational)
- Impaired Glucose Tolerance
- Heart Disease, including high blood lipids and high blood pressure
- Obesity
- Irritable Bowel Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Coeliac Disease
- Diverticular Disease
- Malnutrition / poor appetite / excess weight loss
- Allergies and intolerances
- Fussy eaters
- Anaemia
- Post lap banding or sleeve gastrectomy
- Cancer
Diabetes Education
The Diabetes Educator currently consults to clients within the Denmark area. Referrals will be accepted for the following conditions:
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes – on insulin
- Gestational Diabetes
We encourage referrals from GPs and other health professionals via MMEx, though faxed or mailed referrals will also be accepted.
Occupational Therapy
The Great Southern GP Network has created an Occupational Therapy service for the Shire of Plantagenet. This support is in addition to existing services.
The Occupational Therapist can provide assessment, consultation and intervention strategies for people of all ages with physical, developmental, psychological and neurological difficulties, following a care plan referral from a General Practitioner.
Referrals may include:
Children
- Difficulties settling relating to sensory processing difficulties
- Developmental delays in self-care (eg. eating, dressing)
- Developmental delays in play
- Attention difficulties affecting learning
- Hand coordination / control difficulties - including handwriting.
Adults
- Home assessments to ensure safety, access and appropriate supports eg. installation of ramps / rails
- Assessment of need for equipment eg. wheelchair, seating, shower chair, activity of daily living aids.
Podiatry
A Podiatrist is currently contracted through GSGPN to provide services in the Denmark region. Referrals can be made directly to Julie Glynn for conditions including:
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Type 2 Diabetes
Group Programs
Living Life with a Chronic Condition
Living Life with a Chronic Condition is a chronic disease self management program designed for people with a chronic condition(s) such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, chronic pain, asthma, osteoporosis and others.
In addition to education on general topics such as nutrition, physical activity, medications, communication and relaxation, the workshops teach participants strategies about how to self-manage and cope with issues arising from their condition. It also teaches them how to work effectively with their health care team and play an active role in the management of their condition.
People can self-refer into this program by phoning the Rural Access Program at GSGPN on 08 9842 2797. GPs and other health professionals can send referrals via MMEx, mail or fax.
Living Well with Diabetes
Living Well with Diabetes is a program for people with a definite diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes – whether newly diagnosed, or established for a period of time.
This program provides participants with the knowledge and skills to self-manage their diabetes, covering topics from blood glucose monitoring, treating hypo/hyperglycemia, healthy eating, lifestyle modification and communication with your health care team.
People can self-refer into this program by phoning the Rural Access Program at GSGPN on 08 9842 2797. GPs and other health professionals can send referrals via MMEx, mail or fax.
Reset Your Life
Reset Your Life is a lifestyle modification program aimed at reducing the risk, or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes, for people classified by the AUSDRISK tool as at ‘high risk’ of developing type 2 diabetes.
The program involves education about what is diabetes, nutrition, physical activity, smoking and alcohol advice and behavioural strategies on how to implement and sustain lifestyle change.
A GP referral is required for this program.
Aged Care Access Initiative (ACAI)
Through the Aged Care Access Initiative allied health providers are funded to deliver services to residential aged care facilities. Currently dietetics, speech pathology, occupational therapy and mental health are being provided to facilities throughout the Great Southern region.
Referrals are accepted directly from the residential aged care facilities and progress reports are provided to the resident's GP.
Research
The Great Southern GP Network is working closely with UWA on a project researching accommodation opportunities for medical, nursing and allied health students. It is hoped that by increasing the suitability and availability of accommodation to students, more will be able to undertake rural placements and potentially be more likely to accept rural employment post graduation.
The goals of this project are:
- Clarify with the universities their current and future plans for increasing the number and range of medical and allied health student placements in the Great Southern Region.
- Identify any accommodation related barriers to increasing the number and range of students in the Region.
- Identify the current and future student accommodation needs for medical and allied health students in the Region.
- Identify options for accommodation in the Region.
- Establish a process for students to access accommodation in the Region.
- Recommend how to resolve any other issues that arise out of this needs assessment.
Background
Residents of Aged Care Facilities are amongst the most frail of Australians. They often have complex care needs requiring multidisciplinary healthcare providers. Some residents of Aged Care Facilities experience difficulties accessing GPs and allied health professionals.
The Aged Care Access Initiative began in July 2008 to improve access to primary care services (GPs and allied health) for residents of aged care facilities.
The initiative has two distinct components:
- a GP Incentive component; and
- an allied health services component.
GP Incentive Payment
The GP Incentive Payment operates through the Practice Incentives Program (PIP), and is designed to encourage GPs to provide more services in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs). The Incentive recognises some of the difficulties faced by GPs in providing care in these settings and encourages GPs to provide continuing and increased services in RACFs. The PIP payments are administered through Medicare Australia.
Operation
Incentive payments are based on a GP porviding a predetermined number of Medicare services in RACFs over a financial year. The Incentive payments are available to GPs in practices participating in the PIP. These practices are required to be accredited or registered for accreditation against the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for General Practices.
There are two payment levels under the GP component. Payments are calculated by Medicare Australia based on the number of relevant MBS items claimed in one financial year.
- Tier one provides a payment of $1,000 when the first qualifying service level (QSL1) of 60 services is claimed in 2009-10.
- Tier two provides a payment of $1,500 when the second qualifying service level (QSL2) of 140 services is claimed in 2009-10.
The maximum payment any one GP can receive in one financial year is$2,500. Once the prescribed number of MBS items has been claimed, Medicare Australia will make a payment automatically to the account nominated by the GP.
Eligible MBS Items
Eligible services are those provided to Aged Care Facility residents in Commonwealth funded RACFs and Mulitpurpose services. MBS Items that count toward the incentive are as follows:
25, 35, 43, 51, 92, 93, 95, 96, 712, 731, 734, 736, 738, 775, 778, 779, 903, 5010, 5028, 5049, 5067, 5260, 5263, 5265, 5267.
This list may be revised from time to time to include other items.
Allied Health Services Payment
The allied health services component is a payment for clinical care provided by Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in RACFs, where these services are not currently covered by Medicare or other government funding arrangements. This component is managed at a state level by State Based Organisations which purchase allied health services from GP Networks.
Rural Palliative Care
Targeting rural and remote areas to enhance partnerships and create linkages between services coordinating Palliative Care to ensure patients and their families have access to timely high quality care in the environment of their choice.