October 2017
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Practices begin services in October
Marking the beginning of this important reform in primary care in Australia, the first 22 Health Care Homes began enrolling patients and providing services on 2 October 2017. The remaining Health Care Homes will begin on 1 December.
Health Care Homes will provide better coordinated and more flexible care for up to 65,000 Australians who are living with chronic and complex conditions.
As noted by the Primary Health Care Advisory Group, the incidence of chronic disease is on the rise in Australia. One in two Australians now have a chronic disease – such as diabetes, arthritis and heart and lung conditions – and one in four have at least two chronic diseases. The Health Care Homes' model is designed to help Australians better manage their conditions by providing them access to coordinated, integrated care, tailored to their needs.
The 22 Health Care Homes are located in the Western Sydney, South Eastern Melbourne, Hunter New England and Central Coast, and Brisbane North Primary Health Network regions (see list below).
Enrolment of patients will be staggered over the coming year. This gives practices time to adjust their process and business systems for the Health Care Homes' model. It also recognises that it may take some time for practices to contact potentially eligible patients, tell them about Health Care Homes, and make sure that patients who are eligible understand and are comfortable with the new model.
Full enrolment is expected to be achieved by 30 November 2018. This will give all Health Care Homes’ patients a minimum of 12 months of Health Care Homes services.
The department will monitor patient enrolment. If necessary, practices will be advised when to stop enrolling patients.
October Health Care Homes' practices
In Western Sydney Primary Health Network (PHN): Mt Druitt Medical; Richmond Rd Family Practice, Glendenning; Kings Langley Family Practice; Bridgeview Medical Practice, Toongabbie; Hills Family General Practice, Bella Vista; Healthway Medical Practice, Rooty Hill; Blacktown Family Medical Centre; Walters Road Medical Centre, Blacktown; Winston Hills Medical Centre; Bidwell Family Practice; Holroyd Medical Services, Merrylands.
In South Eastern Melbourne PHN: Lynbrook Village Medical Centre; Pearcedale Medical Centre; First Health Medical Centre, Hampton Park; Thompson Rd Clinic, Cranbourne; Lakeside Square Medical Centre, Pakenham; Hallam Family Practice; Carrum Downs Medical Centre; Dandenong West Medical Centre
In Hunter, New England, Central Coast PHN: Windmill Practice, Tamworth; Armidale Medical Centre.
In Brisbane North PHN: Caboolture Super Clinic.
Risk stratification tool goes live
The 22 practices that have commenced Health Care Homes' services are using the risk stratification tool for the first time in a live clinical setting.
The tool is now being observed in action. These practices will be able to provide the department and Precedence Healthcare with valuable feedback about different aspects of the model and the functionality of the tool.
Modifications can then be made prior to 1 December, so that the majority of Health Care Homes will have the best possible use of that tool when they commence services. Practices starting services in December will be provided the tool in November 2017.
Training available to all Health Care Homes' practices
All participating Health Care Homes' practices are encouraged to contact their PHN Practice Facilitators and begin the training modules as soon as possible. Practices are expected to complete their training within the first year of Health Care Home services.
The 11 modules in the training provide detailed information about all aspects of the Health Care Homes' model. The training can help practice team members understand and contribute to the transformation of a practice or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) into a Health Care Home. The Health Care Home readiness tool that accompanies the training package can assist practices to identify training priorities.
Staff receive a certificate once they have completed each of the 11 modules. The certificate can then be used to obtain CPD credit points.
Save the date for webinars
Health Care Homes and PHN Practice Facilitators can delve deeper into the training modules through a series of seven live interactive webinars running over the next three months. An impressive array of experts will host these online webinars. For more information contact your local PHN Practice Facilitator.
New practice and consumer resources online
A range of resources have been developed to help Health Care Homes’ practices and ACCHS recruit eligible patients for the first stage of the trial. Bookmark these pages for easy access.
Health Care Homes for health professionals
Practice resources for health professionals
Updates, factsheets and newsletters for health professionals
AGPAL train-the-trainer workshop hits the mark
International and national facilitators (above) at the Health Care Homes' workshop in Sydney ― more than 30 PHN Practice Facilitators converged in Sydney on 19 August for a three‑day intensive workshop which showcased the first six Health Care Homes’ training modules. The workshop brought the trial to life, with keynote speakers from the US and Australia showcasing the need for best practice and collaborative approaches to the Health Care Homes' model.
The PHN Practice Facilitators attending the workshop came equipped with a broad range of experience and knowledge of the Health Care Homes' model and the needs of primary care providers and patients in their regions. The lessons and advice delivered in the workshop allowed them to advance this knowledge even further and develop detailed plans on how to better support practice transformation. (Photo: Courtesy AGPAL)
