The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has developed new standards and guidelines for the Patient-Centred Medical Home, which will revolutionise the way Australians interact with general practice and preventative healthcare.
RACGP president Dr Frank R Jones said the new standards would set the direction for the evolving Patient-Centred Medical Home and ensure general practice retained its crucial role in leading its implementation.
“The RACGP Standards cover all aspects of the Medical Home model and build on the areas in our Vision for general practice and a sustainable healthcare system. They can be used for both the Medical Home and Health Care Home models and cover care for all patients in the practice, not just those with complex, chronic conditions,” Dr Jones said.
At its very core, the Medical Home builds a partnership between individual patients, their personal GP and an extended healthcare team, allowing for better-targeted and effective coordination of clinical resources to meet patient needs.
“While general practice already delivers many aspects of the Medical Home, we need to change our thinking about how we deliver care to a changed, and changing health demography,” Dr Jones said.
The benefits of continuity of care with a regular GP have recently been reinforced and underlined: a study in the British Journal of General Practice of more than 1700 Dutch people aged over 60 found that those who had multiple GPs over 17 years were more likely to die during the study period than those who had one GP.
“A re-energised focus on primary health through the Medical Home will reduce referrals and admissions to our expensive but necessary hospital systems.
“If appropriately designed, implemented and funded, the Medical Home will support the delivery of quality patient care, ensuring each patient has a stable and ongoing relationship with a general practice that provides continuous and comprehensive care to people at all life-stages,” Dr Jones said.
The Standards provide the GP, practice team, and Aboriginal Medical Service with clarity through information sharing and collaboration regarding the patient’s treatment, testing and diagnosis within and outside the general practice.
“The RACGP developed the Standards for the introduction of the Medical Home and Health Care Home models and we are seeking feedback throughout their implementation,” Dr Jones said.
GP16 – the RACGP’s annual conference for general practice – runs from September 29 - October 1 2016 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Visit the GP16 website for more information.