Moving towards organised care of chronic disease. The 3+ visit plan.
BACKGROUND
The health care system is better organised to react to acute rather than chronic presentations of disease, yet a significant proportion of health care expenditure is on chronic diseases and their complications.


OBJECTIVE
This article seeks to argue the case for the organised care of chronic disease. Asthma is used as the demonstration disease because a model has already been developed and a pilot evaluation has been done.


CONCLUSIONS
The National Asthma Campaign has been involved in the development, by general practitioners, of a system of asthma care organised in a way appropriate for general practice in Australia. The care is provided over a series of visits and ensures that all of the six steps of the Asthma Management Plan are covered.
General Practice Teaching Unit, Illawarra Area Health Service, Wollongong, New South Wales.
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D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D001315:Australia; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019468:Disease Management; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans