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More Allied Health Service (MAHS) Program
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| MORE ALLIED HEALTH SERVICES | ||
| Service Type |
Town |
Frequency |
| Generalist Counsellor | Coonabarabran | Weekly |
| Coonamble | Second weekly | |
| Gilgandra | Second weekly | |
| Gulgong | Weekly | |
| Mudgee | Weekly | |
| Dietician | Coolah | Twice monthly |
| Coonamble | Twice monthly | |
| Dunedoo | Every six weeks | |
| Gilgandra | Twice monthly | |
| Gulgong | Twice monthly | |
| Mudgee | Twice weekly | |
| Narromine | Twice weekly | |
| Nyngan | Twice monthly | |
| Trangie | Monthly | |
| Diabetes Educator | Coonabarabran | Monthly |
| Coonamble | Monthly | |
| Gilganda | Monthly | |
| Gulgong | Monthly | |
| Mudgee | Monthly | |
| Narromine | Monthly | |
| Warren | Monthly | |
| Wellington | Twice monthly | |
| Podiatry | Narromine | Monthly |
| Asthma | Gilgandra | Monthly |
| Narromine | Monthly | |
| Wellington | Monthly | |
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All enquiries can be made to Lorraine McGhee at the Division on 6884 0197. |
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In February 2000 it was bought to the Ministers (Hon Dr Michael Wooldridge) attention that one of the factors contributing to inequities in health service delivery for rural communities was the lack of professional allied health professionals, which could support the work of rural GPs. This lack of allied health service providers also had implications for the uptake by GPs in regional Australia of the Medicare Enhanced Primary Care items (create link to EPC here) that were introduced by the Commonwealth Government in November 1999.
To acknowledge the need for increased access to allied health service for rural communities, the More Allied Health Service (MAHS) program was developed as a critical component of the Regional Health Strategy: More Doctors, Better Services which was announced in the May 2000/01 Commonwealth Government Budget.
The MAHS program enables rural communities to access allied health services that have not been available previously. Increasing access to allied health service acknowledges the importance of allied health services in the provision of comprehensive health care, the need to support rural GPs in their work as primary care providers and the value of collaboration between these groups in improving the health outcomes for rural communities.
Funding for the program is through rural Divisions of General Practice.
Development of the program at the local level.
The MAHS
program funding provides allied health services to rural populations living
within RRMA 4-7 only. Providing opportunities for General Practitioners to link
with allied health professionals, to upgrade the quality of health service
delivery at the local level and improve health outcomes for people living in
rural areas.
Allied health professionals employed under the MAHS program have recognised educational qualifications specific to the position for which they are employed. Their clinical services are accessed by consumers in rural communities via their General Practitioner (ie initial referral via a General Practitioner). This approach increases the opportunities for collaborative work between General Practitioners and the allied health professionals employed under MAHS. It provides opportunities for increased use of the care planning and case conferencing EPC MBS items and promotes continuity of care.
Enhancing General Practice in western NSW
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Dubbo Plains Division of
General Practice |