Phcy-GP collaboration pilot

PHARMACIST and doctors are being brought together in a trial chronic disease management plan to better manage patient issues.

The Victorian Health Department funded convenient-access scheme is dubbed ‘Pharmacist Chronic Disease Management Pilot’ and involves four sites: Alexandra - Alexandra Medical Centre with Alexandra Community Pharmacy, Kerang - Gannawarra Family Clinic with Terry White Chemist Kerang, Kilmore - Stepping Stones Medical Centre with Amcal Pharmacy Kilmore, and Whittlesea - Whittlesea Medical Centre with Whittlesea Amcal Pharmacy.

Interest in the project has been strong among both GPs and pharmacists such that initially only three sites were expected to be named, but this was increased to four based on engagement from GPs and pharmacies since the expressions of interest period opened in Jan.

All four sites have demonstrated there is already a strong working relationship between the pharmacies and GPs.

They were also identified as areas with a high prevalence of chronic disease and would stand to benefit the most from the pilot scheme, the Minister for Health Jill Hennessy said.

“Chronic disease is a huge burden on our communities – more than half of patients at a GP are there because of a chronic condition,” she explained.

“We want patients to be able to look to their trusted and skilled pharmacists for routine queries, so we can take the pressure off doctors and medical clinics.

“It makes sense and still gives patients the personalised health care and expertise they deserve at every step of their journey.”

Patients with chronic diseases such as asthma or hypertension will be eligible to be part of the trial which is expected to begin in Sep.