Moving towards organised care of chronic disease. The 3+ visit plan

Abstract

Background: The health care system is better organised to react to acute rather than chronic presentations of disease, yet a significant proportion of health care expenditure is on chronic diseases and their complications.

Objective: This article seeks to argue the case for the organised care of chronic disease. Asthma is used as the demonstration disease because a model has already been developed and a pilot evaluation has been done.

Discussion: The National Asthma Campaign has been involved in the development, by general practitioners, of a system of asthma care organised in a way appropriate for general practice in Australia. The care is provided over a series of visits and ensures that all of the six steps of the Asthma Management Plan are covered.