Online Training For GP Teams Focuses On Care Plans For People With Intellectual Disability

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 17 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has released a new online learning activity designed to support general practitioners and other members of the general practice team in developing high quality care plans for people with intellectual disability, and in understanding eligibility requirements for Medicare-funded care plans.

"For patients with intellectual disability care plans are a critical part of managing their health and well-being. This new education module, which is relevant to all members of the general practice team, takes a case-based approach to assisting patients to manage their health needs," said Dr Chris Mitchell, RACGP President, and GP in Northern NSW.

"GPs are often the first point of contact within the health system for people with intellectual disability. Their health care needs are often complex; completing a care plan is an important part of ensuring these patients receive the care they need," said Dr Mitchell.

This educational activity, developed with the support of the Australian Government and written by Monash University, Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria, is now available through the RACGP's online education portal gplearning at http://www.gplearning.com.au. By completing this activity GPs can earn category 2 QA&CPD points.

This module has been linked to the RACGP Curriculum for general practice learning objectives and is an ideal introduction for general practice registrars on best clinical practice in the management of intellectual disability. This activity is available online; GPs can complete this learning activity anywhere at any time.

After working through this module participants should be able to:

- Identify patients who would benefit from a care plan
- Describe the requirements, structure and regulation of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) care planning items
- List the other professionals and services that could usefully contribute to the care plan and understand how to involve them
- Prioritise management goals and use the structure of a care plan to contribute to meeting those goals
- Describe how the routine use of care plans can help prevent potential health and well being problems from being missed.

The activity forms part of an active learning module comprising six activities.

Source
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

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