Medical services provided by general practitioners in residential aged-care facilities in Australia.
We conducted a literature review to assess the current status of general practitioner services in residential aged-care facilities (RACFs) in Australia and the impact of recent initiatives to enhance access by RACF residents to these services. Of 400 publications identified, 22 were selected as relevant to our study. We also analysed publicly available statistical data on GP services in RACFs. Recent initiatives to improve quality of care and facilitate access to GP services for RACF residents include the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative, the Enhanced Primary Care program, and an expanded role of palliative care. Despite these initiatives, many GPs still find RACF services unappealing due to a perceived poor level of remuneration for the effort involved. Further improvements in access to and quality of GP services to RACFs may require new models of care delivery and financing.
Gadzhanova
Svetla
S
Department of General Practice, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Reed
Richard
R
D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care