Health Assessments
It is important that you are healthy, both mentally and physically.
Establishing good health means that you are likely to enjoy a longer, healthier and happier life. By getting the recommended health checks, you can work with your local Wagga doctor, GP or health service providers to improve your chances of living a healthier life and preventing health problems.
A health assessment is an examination performed by a health service provider to check your current state of health. As people age, they become more vulnerable to ill health. To lower your risk of being unhealthy or developing health implications, it is important that you have regular health assessments in each stage of your life.
The aim of the health assessment is to prevent, decrease or management the effects of health issues and can involve.
Performing tests
Updating medical history
Examining the patient for any health issues
Following up on any problems found during the assessment
Offering advice on how to improve your health
Health assessments are important for men and women throughout their whole lifetime. If you would like to schedule a health assessment with your doctor, please contact us.
45-49
The 45- 49 Health Assessment is designed for people aged 45- 49 years of age who are at risk of developing chronic diseases. The health care professional may select a MBS item 701 (Brief), 703 (Standard), 705 (Long), 707 (Prolonged) to assess the patient. The length of the consultation will depend upon the complexity of the patient’s condition and the medical practitioner makes observations upon specific risk factors, chances of chronic illness or disease development implications as well as the patient’s overall health.
A chronic disease is a disease that has been, or, is likely to remain for longer than 6 months.
Chronic diseases may include
Cancer
Cardiovascular or heart conditions
Asthma
Diabetes
Arthritis
Musculoskeletal conditions
The determination of whether a patient is at risk of developing a chronic illness is made by the health care provider who will make a clinical judgement depending upon certain risk factors, including
Lifestyle risk factors, such as physical inactivity, smoking, obesity, poor nutrition and alcohol use
A family history of chronic disease
Biomedical risk factors, such as excess weight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or impaired glucose metabolism
If your local GP or health care provider determines you are at risk of developing a chronic disease, they will generally
Collect information on patient’s history and perform examinations and investigations
Initiate interventions or referrals for other health service providers
Make an overall assessment upon on the patient’s health and the readiness for lifestyle or health changes
Provide information upon additional life style changes, health changes, behavioural changes and assistance in strategies to alter or recover from chronic illness
Keep a record of the patient’s health assessment and make recommendations to the patient on the improvement or management of their chronic illness
In some cases, a carer may be provided to the patient
It is important to note, that the 45- 49 Health Assessment Medicare rebate is only payable once to each eligible patient and is not eligible to be received in conjunction with other appointments the patient attends on the day, except where clinically required.
If you would like to schedule a 45- 49 Health Assessment, please contact us.
75+
The purpose of this health assessment is to determine any risk factors exhibited by elderly patients that might require medical intervention or further health management. The health assessment also assesses the patient’s health status to identify a wide range of health factors that can influence the patient’s social, psychological or physical health.
Your health service provider may undertake a MBS item 701 (Brief), 703 (Standard), 705 (Long) or 707 (Prolonged) health assessment. The length of the health assessment will be determined by the complexity of the patient’s health and will be at the discretion of the health service provider.
The health assessment performed by the health service provider may include
Collecting information on patient’s history and perform examinations and investigations
Initiating interventions or referrals for other health service providers
Making an overall assessment upon on the patient’s health and the readiness for lifestyle or health changes
Providing information upon additional life style changes, health changes, behavioural changes and assistance in strategies to alter or recover from chronic illness
Keeping a record of the patient’s health assessment and make recommendations to the patient on the improvement or management of their chronic illness
In some cases, a carer may be provided to the patient
The health assessment will measure and assess specific components for older people including
Medication
Continence
Immunisation status regarding influenzas, pneumococcus and tetanus
Physical function, whether the patient has fell in the last 3 months and the patient’s daily activities
Psychological function, including cognitive and mood
Social function and whether the patient is able to care for other people who require assistance
The health service provider performing the assessment may also consider whether the patient is isolated, their nutritional status, their access to community services and their oral health
It is important to note, that the 75+ Health Assessment Medicare rebate is only payable once to each eligible patient and is not eligible to be received in conjunction with other appointments the patient attends on the day, except where clinically required
If you would like to schedule a 75+ Health Assessment, contact us.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
The aim of the health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people receive the best primary health care that is catered to their needs. The health assessment can help patients by allowing early detection, intervention, diagnosis and treatments available for conditions that cause early mortality and morbidity.
The MBS health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres strait islander people covers health assessments for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 15 years and younger
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents and adults who are aged 16 years to 54 years of age
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander older people who are aged 55 years and older
The health assessment performed by the health service provider may include
Collecting information on patient’s history and perform examinations and investigations
Initiating interventions or referrals for other health service providers
Making an overall assessment upon on the patient’s health and the readiness for lifestyle or health changes
Providing information upon additional life style changes, health changes, behavioural changes and assistance in strategies to alter or recover from chronic illness
Keeping a record of the patient’s health assessment and make recommendations to the patient on the improvement or management of their chronic illness
In some cases, a carer may be provided to the patient
As part of the assessment, the health service provider will develop a strategy to ensure the good health and wellbeing of the patient. The doctor will also discuss with you the methods in which will be undertaken to treat, prevent or manage any issues that are found during the health assessment.
The health service provider is happy to identify the services and actions you will need to partake in to ensure that you are receiving the best care possible.
The health assessment process will be a collaboration between the patient and the health service provider upon which options can help the patient will be discussed.
The health components the health care provider will assess during the assessment will include
The patient’s physical, physiological and social wellbeing
Education and other assistance to the patient
Preventable or treatable health care available to the patient
Strategies on how to improve wellbeing and health
It is important to note, that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Health Assessment Medicare rebate is an annual service. The minimum time between action plans is 9 months to allow flexibility. Health service providers should not conduct separate consultations in relation to the health assessment, unless, it is clinically necessary to do so. The program is not available to patients who reside in residential aged homes, are in- patients of a hospital or care facility or do not meet the criteria.
If you would like to schedule an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Health Assessment, please contact us.