Enhanced primary care. A rural perspective.
BACKGROUND
The Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) program is designed to promote better management of and improved health outcomes for people with chronic illness. Specific Medicare item numbers provide government funding to encourage general practitioners to take up health assessments, care plans and case conferences.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated elements of the EPC program from a rural general practice perspective.


METHODS
Questionnaires summarising experience of EPC for patients and health care providers, undertaken over four weeks at three rural general practices, and observation.


RESULTS
The EPC program assisted the management and coordination of care for patients with multidisciplinary care needs. General practitioners were generally positive about the EPC program. The main barrier was the extra time required. The main concern of allied health workers was the lack of appropriate remuneration for their participation. Patients were positive in their responses, but many appeared to lack the motivation and self management skills to take full advantage of the program.


CONCLUSIONS
Strategies seeking to increase the uptake of EPC items need to address efficiency and accessibility, and funding for participating health professionals.
Lewis
Philippa
P
Adelaide University, South Australia.
White
Angela
A
Misan
Gary
G
Harvey
Peter
P
Connolly
Jerome
J
Noone
Joe
J
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003625:Data Collection; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013021:South Australia