Today the ACT Division of General Practice (ACTDGP) was invited by the Federal Government to apply to become a ‘Medicare Local’.
ACTDGP President Dr Rashmi Sharma says becoming a Medical Local will enhance the provision of primary health care in the ACT.
“ACT Medicare Local will provide additional support to General Practitioners (GPs) and many other health professionals who provide primary health care in our local community,” said Dr Sharma.
The focus of primary health care is health promotion, disease prevention, and early diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease or disability. The Federal Government is investing $417 million to establish a nation-wide network of primary health care organisations (Medicare Locals) to support health professionals to improve the delivery of primary health care services at a local level and improve access to health services in the community.
The ACT Medicare Local will have strong links to general practice, allied health services, Local Hospital Networks and Canberra communities.
Health Minister Katy Gallagher MLA today added her support to the Division being in the first round of Medicare Locals. “The Division has well developed capabilities in areas such as eHealth, workforce development, practice support and education, to name a few. It also works closely with primary care agencies, making it well placed to provide the Canberra community with high quality services through the ACT Medicare Local.”
“The ACT Government is in the process of finalising arrangements for the ACT Local Hospital Network and, given that the Division already works closely with ACT Health, it would be appropriate that the ACT Medicare Local be established in parallel with the new hospital network in July 2011," the Minister said.
In addition to the services already offered by ACTDGP to general practitioners, it is expected that the Medicare Local will:
- facilitate allied health care and other support for people with chronic conditions
- work closely with local health care professionals to ensure services are integrated so patients can easily access the services they need
- work to ensure the availability of after hours services in the ACT
- identify groups of people missing out on GP and primary health care or services that a local area needs, and respond to those gaps by better targeting services
- work with Local Hospital Networks to assist with the transition out patients out of hospital and, if required, into aged care
- deliver health promotion and preventive health programs to communities with identified risk factors.