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Melbourne General Practice Network

Aged Care

Background

The Aged Care GP Panels Initiative was established on 1 July  2004.  It has been successful in facilitating relationship building between GPs, Divisions of General Practice and RACFs, increasing access to primary care services for RACFs and improving quality of care for residents.  In the 2007-08 Federal Budget an expansion of the Panels Initiative to include allied health service providers was announced.  The expanded Panels Initiative supports GPs, allied health service providers and RACFs in accessing primary care options and multidisciplinary health care services.

Medical Care Of Older Persons In Residential Aged Care Facilities The RACGP 'Silver Book' 4th edition. Edited by Dr Denise Ruth.

For a copy of this book email margo.roest@mgpn.com.au or phone on (03) 9347 1188.

Aged Care GP Panels Initiative Information and links

The GP Panels Initiative assists GPs, Allied Health Service Providers  and Aged Care Homes to identify issues and work together to improve systems and reduce barriers to effective GP and allied health participation in RACFs..

Activities undertaken by the GP Panel include:

  • Prioritisation of annual strategic goals
  • Dsitribution of regular Newsletter
  • Support and education to GPs and RACF staff.
  • FAcilitation of quality initiatives, meetings and outcomes.
  • Assistance with IT improvement
  • Utilisation of Medicare Plus Aged Care Items

Utilisation of Medicare Plus Items which include:

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Melbourne General Practice Network Aged Care Program

MGPN Aged Care Program Structure and Summary 2007

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For more information

Please contact:

Margo Roest
Aged Care GP Panels Initiative Program Manager
Phone: (03) 9347 1188
Email: margo.roest@mgpn.com.au

Aged Care GP interface resources and articles

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MBS Items available - Available for residents of Aged Care homes

Summary of Items   

CMA (Comprehensive Medical Assessment Item 712)
Useful resources for a Comprehensive Medical Assessment (CMA) Information from Medicare

CMA (Item 712)
Templates for CMA are available for Medical Director and Genie users, or in paper form.
CMA standard assessment form (ready to print) CMA Form

CMA for Medical Director
Available from North East Valley Division website: www.nevdgp.org.au/ (go to Division Resources, then to Aged Care)
CMA for Genie

RMMR - Residential Medication Management Review (Item 903)
• RMMR Information
• GP Invitation

Case Conferences at Aged Care Homes
• Case Conferences at Aged Care Homes


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SAGE - GP Mentor Program

SAGE (Supervised Attachment for Geriatric Experience Mentoring) Program
Melbourne Division is offering a mentoring program for GPs interested in learning more about working with aged care homes.
Features of this program include:
Mentor Program Summary

  • 10 to 12 hours of paid mentoring by experienced GP mentors, specialists and aged care professionals.
  • RACGP Group 1 activity attracting 30 CPD points for mentee
  • Development of links with local aged care homes for ongoing work.

GPs interested in participating, please call Margo on 9347 1188 or email

Application form

Hospital transfer tools

Hospital transfer letter check.
Does your current documentation have all the recommended elements? Use the check list to audit.

Example of a hospital transfer letter
Developed by Aged Care Homes, Hospitals and Divisions of General Practice in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Recommendations for Hospital Transfer Process

Transfer letter envelope

  • This envelope has been designed to hold all the patients transfer information when going to hospital to help ensure
  • The information gets to the hospital
  • The patient is identified as a resident of an aged care home
  • Final check list that all required information has been sent.

GP and Residential Aged Care Kit

This kit, developed by North West Melbourne Division, is available at by calling Margo Roest on 9347 1188 or margo.roest@mgpn.com.au

Systems that Work well

The GP Panel project has completed a needs analysis of Aged Care Homes and GPs.
Many issues raised, such as medication management, were common problem areas to all groups.
Systems working well included:

  • A few core GPs caring for majority of residents, 4 to 8 residents per GP
  • GPs sharing care with others in their practice
  • GP Clinic within the Aged Care Home
  • Time and opportunity for GPs to develop long term relationship with Aged Care Home and staff
  • GP understanding of Aged Care Home processes and imperatives
  • Aged Care Home understanding of GP pressures
  • Planned GP visits to Aged Care Home
  • Aged Care Home support provided to GPs (preparation of paperwork, residents etc.) maximizing GP-resident contact time

Working Together Check Lists:
GP check lists.
Aged Care Home check lists.

 

GP Panel Newsletter (Dec 2006): click here

 

Age Care Workshops 2007

Presentation and Reports

GP Practice Models

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