Allied Health & Diabetes Management
Program Coordinator: Rhett McLennan
Email: r.mclennan@gpasouthgippsland.com.au
Promotion of Allied Health Professionals for the Improvement of Population Health
The model of medical care is slowly changing from the GP being the “one stop shop” for all health complications, to a team based network of health professionals working together to improve outcomes for all unwell patients and clients.
GPA South Gippsland has recognized the need to facilitate this process in our area and have a portfolio specifically designed to make the process of seeing an allied health professional easier after initially seeing your GP.
This is being done by facilitating information sessions and working groups between all medicare eligible health professionals and doctors, setting up training practices on the use of databases to alert the GP of their team care options, and attempting to attract more allied health professionals to consult within South Gippsland for the betterment of population health in our region.
The Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI)
Many Australians suffer from chronic illness, which is a growing problem facing the health system as the population ages. Chronic diseases - such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and arthritis - are estimated to be responsible for nearly 80 per cent of the total burden of disease and injury in Australia, and more than two thirds of all health expenditure. Diabetes and heart disease alone cost the Australian health system more than $6 billion per annum. These chronic diseases also have a disproportionate impact on some population groups, particularly Indigenous Australians.
To address these concerns, and to strengthen the focus of the health system on prevention, health promotion and the management of chronic disease, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) launched a four-year national program called the Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI) on 1 July 2006.
The Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI) is primarily focusing on Diabetes, looking at chronic diseases in the community and easing the burden on doctor’s practices by:
Promoting healthy lifestyles;
Supporting early detection of risk factors and chronic disease;
Supporting lifestyle and risk modification;
Encouraging active patient self management of chronic conditions;
Improving the communication and coordination between care services.
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