Module 6: Health Assessments and preventative health care

Learning objectives

At the completion of this module participants will:
  1. Understand the benefit of health assessments for patients.                                         
  2. Have knowledge of who is eligible.
  3. Know how to collect information.
  4. Know how to record assessment findings.
  5. Know how and when to make a medicare claim.

Benefit to the patient

Delaying the onset of ill health and reducing levels of illness may be achievable through early detection and intervention. 
The Australian Government has initiated a preventative health check for certain target groups. 
The nurse is able to provide a comprehensive assessment as part of the general practice team and reports findings to the general practitioner for review and follow-up.

Who is eligible?

  • All people over 75 years of age  ( MBS Item 700, 702)
  • All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55 years of age ( MBS Item 704, 706)
  • All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged less than 15 years( MBS Item 708)
  • All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 - 54 years ( MBS Item 710)
  • Men and women who are residents of a residential care faciltiy ( MBS Item 712)
  • All children aged 4 years of age ( MBS Item 709, 711)
  • People aged between 40 - 49 at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes ( MBS Item 713)
  • Humanitarian entrants to Australia ( MBS Item 714, 716)
  • Men and Women aged 45 - 49 with at least 1 risk factor for chronic disease ( MBS Item 717)
  • Health check for people with an intellectual disability ( MBS Item 718, 719)

Exercise

Printout a over 75 year old health assessment template from the template link above and attempt completion of the from based on the following recorded interview.  Obviously physical measurements can't be taken but the video below may give some insight to the patients social situation.
 

Reflection

Note some of these health assessments have two item numbers.  The difference being whether the health assessment is conducted in the patients home or in the surgery. Do a search of Medicare Online 

Reports

The minimum requirements are to keep a record of the health assessment (electronic copy or hard copy) and offer a copy to the patient.

Medicare claiming

The health assessment should be undertaken by the patients usual doctor.

The information collection may be done by a practice nurse but in order to claim the item , the patient must also see the doctor.

Quick Quiz

Write a short response to each question in the provided answer sheet.
  1. What item number would you claim for a health asessment of a  57 year old Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander male in the surgery?
  2. What item number would you claim for a 4 year old healthy kids check?
  3. Are these health assessments compulsory?
  4. What other items could you consider while conducting an MBS health check?