Reform or repression

I cannot understand why people are excited about a “series of explicit targets” especially Paul Smith in the 16/5/08 issue of Australian Doctor.  “Why shouldn’t GP’s get involved?” WE ARE INVOLVED!! I fear it will be just one more thing that will be forced on GP’s.  There will come a time that i have spoken about before where doctors will be forced to choose between being a caring flexible doctor vs being someone focussed on his / her future in order to survive.  Gradually gradually our discretionary management options are being eroded.  This new federal govts insistence on performance targets will back fire.

How can the govt be responsible for making sure a proportion of asthma patients have action plans or that type 1 diabetics must have hb1ac <7…unless the govt is going to take over their management.  What will happen is that somehow GP’s will be forced to achieve these goals with all the attendant red tape.  How ?? well by tying it into the PIP paymemts.  But what about those practices not accredited., They will have to be accredited or get less per consult in an unaccredited parctice.  This is the recommendation of the Reform Commission.

Interesting days ahead as small practices will have to fold and just walk away; perhaps to join the Mega Clinics