Living with chronic health conditions
If your health condition has persisted for more than six months an experienced team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals can work in conjunction to support you.
Coordinated care can be provided through Health Assessments, a Chronic Disease Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements.
These services have significant Medicare rebates.
What is a Chronic Disease Management Plan?
A GP Management Plan (GPMP) is a comprehensive plan aimed at coordinating your health care with chronic disease (for at least 6 months) or terminal medical condition.
Your GPMP can include referrals to up to five allied health services per calendar year for Medicare rebate and may include:
- Aboriginal Health Workers or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners
- Audiology
- Chiropractic Care
- Diabetes Education
- Dietetics
- Exercise Physiology
- Occupational Therapy
- Osteopathy
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Psychology
Your plan requires care from a GP and at least two other health or care providers.
For example, you may have two physiotherapy appointments, two appointments with a diabetes educator, and one podiatry appointment.
Is my condition chronic?
The twelve most common chronic conditions in Australia are:
- heart disease
- stroke
- lung cancer
- colorectal cancer
- depression
- type 2 diabetes
- arthritis
- osteoporosis
- asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- chronic kidney disease
- oral disease
This list is provided by the Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel along with a practical overview of living with chronic illness.
Understanding Chronic Illness
Understanding the complexity and stress of managing a chronic condition for you and your loved ones is important. Your chosen practitioners can support you with the best available medical care and advice, kindly and respectfully given.
Medical Cannabis Consulting
Dr Nish Balakrishnan, a general practitioner consulting from the Rosebud clinic is also a certified medical cannabis prescriber.
Consultations are based on best medical practice and Australian clinical guidelines. Prescriptions are not guaranteed. There are strict TGA rules around medical cannabis prescribing. Generally, you are only eligible if:
1: You have a chronic medical issue (which can be treated with medical cannabis) that has been present for 6+ months
2: You have tried other treatments which been ineffective or have produced undesirable side effects or are unsuitable for you.
For more information, please read the TGA guidance for patients here
Meet the Allied Health Practitioners
Your doctor at South Coast Medical will coordinate your care in tandem with the talented allied health team. Their knowledge and experience may make a world of difference to your wellbeing.
Get the help you need
If we sound like the caring medical team you want to help you manage your chronic condition, we’re ready for you.
Book an appointment