Role of Nurses in Health Assessments is Fully Acknowledged

Departmental advice has been released indicating that time spent by nurses in the delivery of health assessments in general practice can be counted when billing a time-based item.
The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) President Ms Karen Booth said, “Most patients know that good quality, cost effective primary health care is not just about seeing a doctor. It is also about the broader support and care provided by the multidisciplinary team. Primary health care nurses are a critical part of the general practice team.”
“Nurses perform much of the information gathering and recording, as well as the provision of advice and intervention around health assessments for children, people at risk of chronic disease, and elderly people; general practices need to claim for this time to stay viable. Health assessments are the first and very important step in delivering coordinated preventive and chronic disease care in general practice,”  Ms Booth said.
The Department of Health website was updated yesterday to state, “The time needed to undertake the aspects of the health assessment by the practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioner may be added to the time taken by the GP to complete the assessment”.
“Nurses play a major role in improving the health journey through preventive care, chronic disease management and curative care. This helps keep people well, out of hospital and residential aged care. It’s what patients want, and it makes economic sense,” Ms Booth said. She added that the impact felt by the announcement contradicting nurse time in late June was felt immediately, with patient health, general practice business structures and nurse jobs threatened.
“We continue to urge the government to communicate openly with peak bodies such as APNA on these issues. Nurses have a lot to offer and our voices need to be heard.” she said