Health Coordination and Team Care Plans
There are different kinds of health plans to help people manage long lasting and ongoing health conditions.
These plans, written by doctors or nurses with you, detail your goals, treatments, and services to help you achieve good health.
What is a long lasting condition?
A long lasting condition is one that has been present for six months or is likely to last six months more or longer.
What is the Health Assessment Clinic?
We run a weekly Health Assessment Clinic in which your nurse who will assess your current health and care needs on behalf of your doctor. The appointment will last approximately 30 minutes.
After you have been to the clinic, the team at reception will make a follow-up appointment with your doctor, who will discuss the findings of the assessment.
What is the Health Coordination Plan?
A Health Coordination Plan is for clients of any age with one or more health issues.
- Your doctor will ask for your consent for a 45-minute long appointment with a nurse. The nurse will assess your current health care needs by asking you about your personal goals and what you would like to achieve from the plan. The nurse will also discuss the health care services you are using or need (see Team Care Arrangements).
- Once the plan has been finalised, the nurse will make you a 15-minute appointment with your doctor to discuss the recommendations with you, obtain your agreement and give you a copy of the plan. It is beneficial to have someone come to the doctor’s appointment with you to provide support.
- You will have an appointment with your doctor every 6 months to measure progress.
Team Care Arrangements (TCA)
If you would benefit from seeing any other health care providers our nurse will recommend appropriate services, discuss care and goals, and draw up a plan called a ‘Team Care Arrangement’. This may mean setting up a plan between services you already use.
The nurse will explain the plan to you and obtain your consent before sharing information about you with others. If there are aspects of your health that you do not want discussed with other providers, please let the nurse know.
You will be consulted about your personal needs and goals and what results you would like from the plan.
As with Health Coordination Plans, the Team Care Plans are for clients of any age with a long lasting and ongoing condition, who are living at home, or are clients being discharged from hospital.
Should the nurse feel that you would benefit from having a Team Care Plan, you will need to attend for a further follow up appointment.
What will it cost?
This service is free of charge, please ensure you bring your Medicare Card and if you have your concession card i.e. Pension / Health Care card.
Medicare Benefits for Private Allied Health Services
Most Team Care services are available at North Richmond Community Health, however, sometimes a referral to a private service is necessary.
You can now receive Medicare rebates for certain types of service and only for a total of five rebates per year per patient.
To receive the rebates you must be managed by your GP.
If both a GP Care Plan and a Team Care Arrangement are in place, the doctor may then give you a referral for the allied health service.
Eligible services include:
- Aboriginal health workers
- audiologists
- chiropractors
- diabetes’s educator (credentialed)
- dietitians
- exercise physiologists
- mental health workers
- occupational therapists
- Osteopaths
- physiotherapists
- podiatrists / chiropodists
- psychologists
- speech therapists.
How can I arrange for my Health Coordination and Team Care Plan?
If you believe you are eligible, ask your doctor on your next visit.
One of our nurses may contact you directly to discuss whether a GP Management Plan would benefit your ongoing health and well being.