‘Medical home’ key to avoiding unnecessary hospitalisations, visits to emergency departments
The latest data from the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) on the performance of healthcare in NSW emphasises the importance of having a family doctor and a ‘medical home’ to avoid unnecessary hospitalisations and visits to emergency departments (EDs).
The report titled Healthcare in Focus 2011: How well does NSW perform? showed that just over half of NSW sicker adults – people most likely to have recent, first-hand experience with care – have a ‘medical home’, or a family doctor who is quickly available to them, knows their medical history and personally coordinates their care.
The report showed that having a medical home increases access to healthcare services, bolsters patient satisfaction and improves health. It also showed patients without a medical home were more likely to make an unnecessary visit to the ED of an evening or weekend.
“This latest information highlights the fact that patients get a higher standard of medical care when they have a family doctor who is their ‘medical home’,” AMA (NSW) Councillor and General Practitioner Dr Brian Morton said.
“It is important to remember that the family doctor is a highly trained and skilled medical practitioner who is extremely up-to-date about the health and medical history of their patients – often the medical history of their family as well.
“This means it is much more likely that the family doctor will diagnose and treat medical problems at an early stage, thus reducing the likelihood of the problem progressing to a level that would require hospitalisation or a visit to the ED,” Dr Morton said.
“A good family doctor will always determine the level of medical attention required by their patient at all times – including after hours – and administer care accordingly.
Dr Morton said, “Having a medical home is extremely important to ensure a consistency of care and the proper management of a patient’s health by their family doctor who is informed, accessible and familiar.”
Media contacts:
Elyse Cain (02) 9902 8138 / 0419 402 955
Lachlan Jones (02) 9902 8113 / 0419 402 955
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