It’s the day after Budget 2021 and there certainly seems to be some magical thinking around. Can we keep printing money? Should we? It’s definitely a time for some novel thinking.
Rory Sutherland writes, in his book Alchemy, about not being beholden to logic when making decisions. It’s one way of making decisions, but not the only way, or even the best way. This is more true when it comes to humans, where the psychological outweighs the logical more often than not. Business has trouble accepting this (it’s hard taking magic or even emotion to a board meeting), politicians even more so, being naturally risk averse.
So what could decisions in health, at Budget time, based on other mental models look like? Two leap to my mind! The first change I would make is to allow a gap with bulk billing for GP appointments. Why? I think this would give patients ‘skin in the game’ (after all, when you get something for free, how much do you value it?). It would also make patients financial participants in their own care, empowering them (how many patients have no idea what healthcare costs?). Bulk billing with no gap could still be available; however I would warrant that services serving those who cannot afford a small gap payment should run on a model other than fee for service (like Aboriginal Medical Services).
The second change: Get Paro! Now getting paro is uniquely Australian vernacular for having a few too many to drink, but Paro the seal is a little different. The PARO is designed as an interactive robot that responds to a person’s touch and voice. It may assist in providing a calming influence for people with dementia. These don’t seem to be used as often in Australia as they are in other countries and yet dementia is a bigger and bigger issue here. Care could be so much better.
PartridgeGP works with you to help you make your best health decisions. We like to think we have a little bit of magic in there and we haven’t discarded logic! We won’t back away from being your companion, guide, advisor, and sounding board through your health journey. We pride ourselves on great communication and we’re ready to share our professional skills and knowledge with you. This is only MORE important now with new vaccines here to END the pandemic. The way forward is clear: make your appointment with us conveniently online right here – or call our friendly reception team on 82953200.
Better, for you.
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For everyone, we believe that having a usual GP or General Practice is central to each person’s care and recommend that people with any health issues that come to the attention of other health professionals should be advised to attend their usual GP or General Practice rather than a specialised service (ie a place not providing the holistic care a specialist GP would). If they say that they don’t have a usual GP or general practice, they should be helped to find one and to actually attend it. Call PartridgeGP on 82953200 or make an appointment online here.
(Hat tip: Dr Oliver Frank)
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If you are a great GP or a great Allied Health Professional, and you want to serve your clients or patients to the best of your ability, without worrying about all the non clinical things that get in your way, lets talk. Call Mrs Hayley Roberts on 8295 3200 and have a coffee and chat with us as to how PartridgeGP can help you to help others.
