Jacki Eckert

Program Manager
ABHI, Accreditation, IT/IM & Practice Nurses
Ph: 02 6049 1906
Email: jeckert@bordergp.org.au

What is Australian Better Health Initiative Primary Care Integration Project (ABHI/PCIP)/Chronic Disease Management?

The Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI) is a package of programs aimed at promoting good health and reducing the burden of chronic disease for all Australians. The Primary Care Integration Focus brings together various aspects of the Health Care System so that hospitals, ambulatory care, Primary Health Care and care in the community have clear funding, role delineation, paths of engagement and transition and is able to continually improve its use of both the workforce and technology.  

• arrangements for co-ordinating clinical activities
• relationships between service providers
• use of systems to support co-ordination

From GPV Website

What does the ABHI/PCIP Program do?

The aims of the Hume Consortia ABHI Program are:

• communicate and link better with other primary care providers
• contribute to work developing local chronic disease care pathways through development of static and electronic flow charts
• engage with the work of the Primary Care Partnerships and other key stakeholders, to improve service co-ordination and integrated chronic disease prevention and management
• make better use of existing primary and community care services including commonwealth, state and non-government organisation funded services with a focus on patients with chronic disease and complex conditions.
• utilise tools/strategies that will assist in better managing patients with chronic disease

A key objective is that general practices have a sustainable system that supports more integrated primary and community care services.

How can ABHI/PCIP help you?

• e-referral via Connectingcare
• chronic disease management in general practice
• flow charts for mental health and diabetes pathways using MBS
• local services contributing to chronic disease management
• PEN Clinical Audit Tool and cleaning/use of practice clinical data
• templates for communicating clinical information to general practice

What has ABHI/PCIP achieved?

• resource development
• improved knowledge of MBS
• general practice systems of  chronic disease management for allied health
• general practice related input into local allied health programs
• information dissemination
• education of general practice staff in MBS use in chronic disease management
• LIFE! Program