Aboriginal Health Forum
General Practice Liaison
Overview
Many patients and health issues require a co-ordinated response from GPs and hospitals. Divisions, acting as the collective voice for general practices at the local level, can negotiate for better communication between GPs and hospitals to achieve better co-ordination and provision of patient care.
Hospitals cannot communicate with GPs about their patients unless they have access to accurate GP contact information. Access to this data is an essential building block for any co-ordination of patient care between primary and acute/subacute care providers.
In Victoria, the Department of Human Services has invested $2.7 million (2006-2007) in the General Practice Liaison Program. The role of this program is to bridge the interface between hospitals and general practice.
GPV�s role is to:
- work with DHS to ensure GP Liaison Officers and divisions are well informed and can share successes
- contribute to the range of DHS strategies that affect GP hospital communication
- promote linkage between Victorian initiatives in improving GP hospital communication and those of the Commonwealth and other states
- negotiate with DHS and the Health Services Directory (HSD) contractor for the effective maintenance of GP data in the HSD and assist in its usage by divisions and hospitals.
Key Objectives
- To assist divisions and hospitals to work together to:
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build the relationship with each other
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improve the transitions of care for patients
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minimise the need for acute care
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shift care to the most appropriate setting.
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- To ensure there is a reliable comprehensive GP database available to all Victorian health services.
For further information contact:
- Lenora Lippmann, Integration Team Leader Ph: 03 9341 5214 | Fax 03 9341 5299 | Email l.lippmann@gpv.org.au
- Jane Measday, General Practice Liaison Co-ordinator Ph: 03 9341 5220 | Fax 03 9341 5299 | Email j.measday@gpv.org.au