Chronic Disease Management - CDM

If you have a chronic disease, it's not too late.

In today’s world our health continuously takes a back seat to our busy lives, we either ignore or dismiss early signs of chronic disease until it is too late and we get burdened with the unfortunate side effects of our indecisions. Either through lack of knowledge or having the mentality of “it will never happen to me”, we still continue to ignore what is in front of us.

Over the past three years we have seen the incidents of Chronic Disease rise with the latest statistics indicating (in 2019) that almost 50% of Australians are suffering from 1 or more of the 10 selected chronic diseases:

Chronic Disease in Australia

Coupled with increasing mental health issues, such statistics paint a troubled picture for our Australia’s health into the future. But it’s not too late to start looking after you now.

Chronic Disease management

Where do we start?

Chronic Disease management looks to address the increasing rate of chronic diseases by looking at ways to prevent diseases rather than treating them, while at the same time promoting good health practices to manage the chronic disease diagnosed. Starting the journey to a healthy you can sometimes be a constant battle for some of us, continually being challenged by society’s stereotypes or our external environment or simply, fighting the craving for the wrong type of food. These are some of the challenges we face. Staying healthy and disease free is possible, with the right type of help.

GP Health Check

The process of chronic disease management starts with GP’s conducting health checks, looking at the patients circumstances to ascertain what health conditions need to be addressed and how to best approach either the treatment of the conditions while at the same time trying to stop the onset of a disease.

A subsequent appointment is booked with the GP, using one of the health assessment criteria listed below:

The following Health Checks are covered by Medicare

Health Assessment for people aged – 45 to 49 – covered under Medicare
Type 2 Diabetes risk evaluation 40 to 49 – covered under Medicare
Health Assessment for people aged 75 plus – covered under Medicare
Health Assessment for people with an intellectual disability – covered under Medicare
Health Assessment for refugees or other humanitarian entrants – covered under Medicare
Health Assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders – covered under Medicare
Health Assessment for people with an intellectual disability – covered under Medicare

Covered by the Department of Verteran Affairs (DVA)

What is a Health Assessment?

Health assessments provide a structured approach when trying to determine what care is needed for the patient. This information is crucial when determining the way forward as patients these days have more than one doctor and information can sometimes be scattered. If you do have multiple clinics it’s important for the GP conducting the assessment to have all the facts available at the time of the appointment, so all options can be considered. The health assessment being conducted, primarily has six parts to it:

Collection of patient information including patient history, ordering of tests and an examination;
Making a comprehensive assessment of the patient;
The GP makes recommendations for interventions;
The patient is provided further advice;
Recording the health assessment including findings;
Forwarding the plan to other health carers who will play a part in the patients care.

Where to Next?

The GPs at Vitalia Healthcare can help

The health assessment is the first stage in trying to stem chronic diseases. Depending on the GP’s determination, a GP Management Plan and Team Care arrangement between the doctor and patient may be created. The team care arrangement functions as a conduit for patients to access allied health services relevant to the patient’s condition and entitles the patient to five free visits with the allied health provider in a 12 month period. While the GP Management plan offers a structured plan including attainable goals for the patient, services that will be needed and action items to manage their condition. Both the management plan and team care arrangement are covered under Medicare making it attainable for everyone.

Looking after your health starts with small steps and you recognising that you don’t need to do it on your own.

Here at Vitalia Healthcare we can help, make an appointment today and let us help you!