Health Assessment (75+)
The MBS Health Assessment items represent a cross-section of the Australian Government's initiatives in the area of primary health care.
The Health Check items allow a medical practitioner to undertake a more comprehensive assessment of a patient. Annual, voluntary health assessments for older Australians provide an opportunity for a GP to undertake an in-depth assessment of the patient's health. Health assessments cover the patient's medical, physical, psychological and social function. The GP should also assess whether preventive health care and education should be offered to the patient, to improve that patient's health and physical, psychological and social function.
(Dept. of Health & Ageing Enhanced Primary Care Program 2007)
Health checks also permit the needs of specific groups to be addressed:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
- Refugees Item Number
- Aged Care Residents (CMA)
- People with a Disability
- Patients over the age of 75
WHY A HEALTH ASSESSMENT?
Opportunity to conduct an in-depth annual assessment for people over 75 years (ATSI over 55 years) who live in the community, independently or within a hostel situation.
- A structured way to identify problems and conditions that may be prevented and treated
- An intervention to improve health and quality of life and decrease possible incidence of falls
HEALTH ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS
- Assessment of physical, psychological and social health including:
- Activities of daily living, physical function, falls in last 6 months
- Blood pressure, pulse rate and rhythm
- Continence
- Medication review (consider a Home Medicine Review)
- Psychological function (mood, cognition)
- Social function/isolation, support required, carer status
- Vaccinations (fluvax, tetanus, pneumococcus)
- Fitness to drive
- Hearing and vision
- Oral health
- Diet and nutrition
- Foot care
- Sleep
- Exercise
- CVD risks (hypotension, hypertension, alcohol, smoking)
- Home Safety – assessment of matting, lighting, rails and general hazards
HOW TO MAKE HEALTH ASSESSMENTS WORK FOR YOUR PRACTICE
- Take a systematic approach to healthcare in your practice: designate the task of setting up health assessment processes in the practice
- Obtain a list of over 75 year old patients (database search) that have been seen by the GP over the last 12 months
- Ensure all patients are eligible for a Health Assessment
- Set up a process for contacting patients (phone or mail)
- Ensure adequate time is allowed for each assessment; 45-90 minutes (longer for home assessments) – these provide a more thorough approach
- Identify and discuss the benefits of a Health Assessment with each patient
- Obtain patient consent, document patient consent
- Findings and outcomes must be discussed with the patient (and carer where appropriate)
- The GP prepares a written summary which the patient signs, including and outcomes and recommendations. A copy should be offered to the patient.
- Keep a copy of each assessment in patient’s records
- Use the Practice Nurse to help conduct the assessments, if available
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| Printed from http://www.scdgp.org.au/page/Programs/Chronic_Disease_Management_QI/HEALTH_ASSESSMENT_75/ © Sunshine Coast Division of General Practice (SCDGP), Australia |