Enhanced primary care items. Their use in diabetes management.
BACKGROUND
The Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) items for care planning and case conferencing provide an opportunity for better quality care for people with chronic disease.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the use of the EPC items in the structured care of diabetes based on evidenced based guidelines in general practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Care planning and case conferencing are useful, especially in the structured care of patients who have poor control. The achievement of better health outcome for these patients depends upon a patient oriented and structured approach in collaboration with other health professionals. This needs to be supported by systems within the practice, Division and local community.
Harris
M
M
School of Community Medicine, University of New South Wales. m.f.harris@unsw.edu.au
Blakeman
T
T
D001315:Australia; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*