Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEP’s) specialise in the delivery of exercise & lifestyle modification programs for people with chronic conditions. The Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Program is designed to provide specialised individual treatment services to patients who have a chronic medical condition and complex care needs.A chronic medical condition is one that has been or is likely to be present for at least six (6) months. These include a range of commonly preventable health conditions such as:
- Diabetes and Pre Diabetes
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Musculoskeletal Injury
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Cancer
- Depression
- Osteoporosis
- Chronic Fatigue
- Back and Neck Pain
- Occupational Injury
- Chronic Respiratory Disease and Asthma
- A history of sedentary behaviours
- Difficulty maintaining motivation and adherence
- Physical restrictions or mobility issues
- Co-morbid conditions
A patient is considered to have complex care needs if they require ongoing care from a multidisciplinary team consisting of their general practitioner (GP) and two (2) other health care providers. Eligible patients are able to claim up to five (5) Medicare rebates for their Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) treatment per calendar year. If you have complex care needs and a current GP Management Plan, referral to AAP may be necessary to:
- Improve quality of care
- Improve self management of the condition
- Incorporate preventative strategies and lifestyle intervention.
This can be achieved through the prescription of exercise physiology treatment services.
Patient progression and adherence will be reported to the referring GP at the completion of the intervention. A recommendation for continuing treatment will be made based on the patient’s progress and medical status. Upon completion of the EPC Program, patients can choose to attend the AAP supervised group sessions to ensure they continue to achieve their lifestyle goals.
If you believe you may qualify for team care arrangements (TCA) and would benefit from exercise physiology, it is best to discuss your eligibility with your general practitioner.