HEALTH ASSESSMENTS

DR TIM SENIORGP, THARAWAL ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

FOR RVTS, FEBRUARY 2016

QUESTIONS TO PONDER…

Are you doing health assessments? Why are you (or why would you) do them? Who are you doing them on? (How can we decide on the best answers to these questions?)

MEDICARE AND HEALTH ASSESSMENTS

MEDICARE AND HEALTH ASSESSMENTS

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mha_resource_kit

WHAT SHOULD BE IN A HEALTH ASSESSMENT?

WHAT SHOULD BE IN A HEALTH ASSESSMENT?

WHAT’S THE EVIDENCE FOR HEALTH ASSESSMENTS?

…AND THAT’S ALL THE EVIDENCE!

WHY DON’T HEALTH CHECKS WORK?ANY IDEAS?

WHO ATTENDS HEALTH CHECKS?

FOLLOW-UP

Practice infrastructure and systems for follow-up of health assessments Local health district infrastructure, systems and referral pathways

WHY DO WE DO HEALTH CHECKS THEN?

Item 715 used to generate income for Aboriginal Medical Services. Used to measure Aboriginal Medical Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Health Used for access to allied health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

HEALTH ASSESSMENT AS RELATIONSHIP?

HEALTH CHECKS OR ANTICIPATORY CARE?

COMPARING ANTICIPATORY CARE AND HEALTH CHECKS…

SO….

No good evidence that general health checks help – they may even harm! Be clear as to why you are doing them They’re not the only method of preventive care Be a GP! Whatever you do requires organisation and follow-up.

ANY QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS, DISCUSSIONS?