Aboriginal Health Forum
Aged Care GP Panels Initiative (ACGPPI)
Overview
In 2004 the Commonwealth Government introduced the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative (ACGPPI) to improve access to medical care and services for residents in aged care facilities, and to enable general practitioners and facilities to work together on quality improvement activities.
The ACGPPI was supported by a number of changes to the Medicare Benefit Schedule to encourage general practitioners to complete comprehensive medical assessments and to work with aged care facilities to develop multidisciplinary care plans to outline a resident�s specific care needs.
Divisions of general practice have been funded to support panel activities and to work with aged care facilities and general practitioners to improve access to medical care for residents in aged care facilities. GPV is the state based organisation in Victoria and works with state and commonwealth departments to support the work of divisions.
In 2007 the ACGPPI was expanded to include allied health professionals. Divisions received additional funding to identify and work with allied health providers to improve access to and quality of care for residents in aged care facilities.
Key objectives of the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative
- To improve access to appropriate medical and primary care for all aged care residents.
- To increase participation of general practitioners in aged care initiatives aimed at improving quality of care.
- To increase participation of allied health service providers in aged care initiatives aimed at improving quality of care.
- To ensure general practitioners, allied health service providers and divisions are working more effectively with residential aged care facilities.
Download information from the Department of Health and Ageing:
- Aged Care GP Panels Initiative - Fact Sheet for GPs
- Aged Care GP Panels Initiative - Frequently Asked Questions
- Aged Care General Practitioner Panels Initiative Handbook
The Role of GPV in the ACGPPI
General Practice Victoria supports divisions to work at a local level to implement the panels program through the provision of information about state and national initiatives, resources, stakeholder consultation and advocacy to support divisions to implement activities a local level. Quarterly, state-wide workshops are held to provide networking opportunities for program managers and to provide a forum for showcasing divisions� achievements.
For more information on the specific objectives and the role of the state based organisations in the ACGPPI see the Panels� Initiative Handbook.
For further information contact:
Lee Stamford, Aged Care Consultant Ph: 03 9341 5200 | Fax: 03 9341 5299 | Email: l.stamford@gpv.org.au