Walking groups and cooking classes in doctors’ surgeries for overweight patients are some of the initiatives being explored under a mixed funding model for registered patients,Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President Karen Price said.
“Particularly for people with chronic health conditions it makes sense because we can then coordinate their care plans,” Dr Price said.
GPs could get block funding for specific patient cohorts,such as those with diabetes or obesity,if they improve outcomes.
Dr Price said care should be taken to ensure this did not result in clinical care being driven by data.
“What happens in Broken Hill is different from what happens in Rose Bay or Toorak;there will be different quality indicators,” Dr Price said.
Australian Medical Association Vice President Chris Moy said the current model of general practice was no longer “fit for purpose” as the nation’s population aged. Tech-savvy younger patients also wanted “more flexibility in how care is provided”,he said.
“We’re hoping that this is the beginning of an evolution of general practice,” Dr Moy said.