Review of the Implementation of Care Plus

Review of the Implementation of Care Plus

Date of publication: December 2006

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Summary

An independent evaluation of the implementation of the Care Plus programme has been undertaken by CBG Research Ltd. Care Plus is a primary health care programme targeted at those with high health needs due to chronic conditions, acute mental health needs, or terminal illness and aims to improve chronic care management, reduce inequalities, improve primary health care teamwork and reduce the cost of service for high need health users.

The CBG report identified general support for the concept of Care Plus amongst most practices (GPS and nurses), PHOs and DHBs, that is, as a programme for targeting patients with high needs and chronic conditions. Eighty percent of PHOs were delivering Care Plus in some or all of their practices by April 2006.

While enrolment growth has been slower than expected, Care Plus appears to be reaching patients with chronic high need, particularly those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Most of the patients surveyed felt their care had improved under Care Plus, and in particular that it was more structured.

The evaluation did identify some areas for improvement. For example, in its current form, Care Plus may not be well suited to patients who need intensive interventions requiring multiple health care contacts over a short period of time such as those with mental health needs and the terminally ill. The evaluation found little evidence to suggest the Care Plus model should be significantly altered in terms of the objectives of the programme, although the reviewers suggest that Care Plus may need to be enhanced to better facilitate care planning and to increase primary health care teamwork.

The Ministry of Health and DHBs will, via the Primary Health Care Strategy Implementation Joint Work Programme, explore a range of options for addressing the issues and recommendations raised in the CBG evaluation.

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Review of the Implementation of Care Plus (Word, 982 KB)
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Date of publication: December 2006

ISBN 978-0-478-30714-6 (Internet)