In a letter to GPs, the GPC said: ‘Subject to confirmation of the evidence base, we have agreed to explore how risk profiling and case management of patients might be introduced from April 2013.’
GPC deputy chairman Dr Richard Vautrey said: ‘That is related to work that Sir John Oldham has been doing. It is about trying to identify those patients who have a number of long-term conditions who are most at risk of emergency admissions. It is about trying to identify patients in advance to meet care needs to avoid emergency admissions.’
Dr Vautrey said the GPC was prepared to look at whether there was sufficient evidence to support the inclusion of such work in the GMS contract. He said there were ‘lots of examples of projects’ of risk profiling and case management and that ‘in principle’ he would expect such work would help reduce emergency admissions.
Dr Vautrey said it was too early to say whether risk profiling and case management would be included as indicators on QOF or in another part of the contract. He said the GPC were ‘flagging it up’ as something the GPC would be looking at, because some clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are already looking at risk profiling and case management. Knowing that it is being considered for inclusion at a national level might influence CCGs work on it, he said.
Risk profiling and case management earmarked for GP contract
The BMA has hinted at what GPs can expect to be included in the 2013/14 GMS contract.
