20th Jun 2011 - Medical Observer
Dr Emil Djakic all articles by this authorA NEW era in primary healthcare reform is about to get under way as the first tranche of Medicare Locals shifts into implementation mode as of next week.
The announcement of the successful first-round applicants is testament to the high performance of the General Practice Network and to all the hard work that went into preparing applications – a process that has been testing at the best of times.
For many, though, it has been a bittersweet announcement. For those divisions that did not meet the criteria in the first round, further work will need to be done, and the feedback provided by the assessors will be eagerly awaited.
For some, the Government has made it clear that forming partnerships to submit joint bids will assist in meeting the criteria for the next round, and the Government has encouraged a number of competing applicants to do so.
This advice is a reflection of the emphasis on partnerships, collaboration and increased stakeholder engagement that Medicare Locals are required to demonstrate.
For the first tranche of Medicare Locals, though, managing expectations will now be part and parcel of this implementation phase. This new model of care through these new primary healthcare organisations will be created over time, and in due course consumers, carers and healthcare professionals will start to appreciate the subtle but effective changes that Medicare Locals will be able to deliver in making the primary healthcare sector easier to navigate.
Contributing substantially to a smoother, consumer-friendly system will be the role Medicare Locals play in the promotion and support of e-health solutions across the primary care setting.
They will be fundamental in driving the change, adoption and support strategy of the Government’s Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system – due to begin rolling out nationally from July next year. The PCEHR promises to deliver better health outcomes for consumers by providing consistent, accurate and timely information to healthcare providers, assisting them in making better decisions around diagnosis and treatment, and minimising the risks associated with allergies and medication mismanagement.
Medicare Locals will also be responsible for managing, coordinating and communicating a significant increase in after-hours GP services as they begin rolling out from 1 July this year.
Contributing to the unsustainable burden on the hospital system – especially emergency departments – is the fact that after-hours GP services are patchy and inconsistent, and where they do exist, many people are unaware of where they are, or have misconceptions about what a GP is able to treat, resulting in unnecessary trips to the hospital.
These early initiatives are only a small number in what will be a comprehensive suite that Medicare Locals will develop and deliver over time.
But the success of even these early programs, and the confidence in the system that comes with them, will be completely reliant on the sufficient resourcing and support of these organisations from the beginning, and on the ability of Medicare Locals and the Government to manage early expectations.
