• You are able to contribute your services to the patient as part of a long term overall plan
• The care plan allows your participation towards an agreed objective
• Your role and responsibility is set out in the care plan
• The GP is aware of your expertise and contribution
• A link to the patient's GP is formalised
• Consistent and well informed care is being provided to the patient
 

If you are not a GP and wish to initiate a care plan

• Many health care providers already develop care plans, for example, with case management of patients
• As a health care provider caring for a patient in a health care program you may wish to link to the patient's usual GP. Such a program may be for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, palliative care, mental health, injury prevention, falls prevention, smoking cessation, AIDS etc.
• The new Medicare Benefits Schedule supports a GP to participate by contributing to an existing plan

How to initiate a care plan

• The patient's usual GP will need to be contacted for agreement to contribute and sent a copy of the care plan outlining the GPs contribution. The GP will need to include this documentation on the patient's file The Eyre Care Software pilot has been conducted in South Australia. Valuable feedback from GPs and EPC Coordinators has resulted in additional programming to improve the product so that the software will now be available in mid June 2001. Training sessions will be available for Division IT personnel and EPC Coordinators and will be notified through State Based Organisations.
  
Proformas