Working With Clients With Mental Health Conditions & Comorbidities PDF

 Attempt successfully submitted Working with Clients with Mental Health Conditions & Comorbidities Original Content Development: Dr Mary Woessner; Modifications: Dr Christopher Mesagno  ACCREDITED EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST SCOPE OF PRACTICE AEPs can work across a range of chronic conditions. Gen...

 Attempt successfully submitted Working with Clients with Mental Health Conditions & Comorbidities Original Content Development: Dr Mary Woessner; Modifications: Dr Christopher Mesagno  ACCREDITED EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST SCOPE OF PRACTICE AEPs can work across a range of chronic conditions. Generally a chronic medical condition is one that has been (or is likely to be) present for six months or longer (e.g., asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions and stroke). However, there is no distinct list of eligible conditions, and mental health conditions are included. Motor Neurone Disease (or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) ACCREDITED EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST SCOPE OF PRACTICE The AEP scope of practice places an emphasis on creating individualised lifestyle modifications for clients with a diverse range of chronic conditions. The goal is to make these changes both achieveable and sustainable. AEPs have a critical role to play when it comes to providing lifestyle interventions for clients with mental health conditions. Common mental health conditions addressed within AEP scope of practice include (but are not limited to): Anxiety Disorders Trauma and Stress Related Disorders Affective Disorders Psychotic Disorders Compensable Medicare Exercise Physiology Services Treating clients with mental health conditions is covered under the Compensable Exercise Physiology Services. Medicare Under standard medicare regulations, you can provide up to 5 individual allied health sessions per calendar year (must be minimum of 20 minutes). *You can provide private services that are not compensable under standard insurance schemes without restriction. Medicare Compensable Scheme for AEPs There are certain requirements mandated for AEPs if they accept the Medicare benefit: 1) Patients must have a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements prepared by their GP, or be residents of a residential aged care facility who are managed under a multidisciplinary care plan. 2) Referrals to allied health providers must be from a GP. 3) Allied health providers (AEP) must report back to the referring GP. Reference: Health.gov.au Medicare Scheme for AEPs The image to the right illustrates how the medicare scheme works in relation to AEPs. Mental health conditions (unless they have T2DM as a comorbid condition) would not qualify for the T2DM scheme and would therefore fall under the 5 one-onone sessions. References: Knowledge Check What allied health individuals can refer clients to AEPs for medicare reimbursed oneon-one sessions?  Other AEPs  General Practitioners  Psychologists  Physiotherapists  All of the above  Check Knowledge Check Under the medicare scheme, a written GP report must be sent to the GP at what point?  After the final assessment  The report to the GP can be completed over a phone call  After the initial assessment  A GP report is not required  Check ACCREDITED EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST SCOPE OF PRACTICE Your role with clients with mental health conditions (with and without other comorbidities) is exactly the same as your role with any other clinical conditions. You can still: Screen and assess clients current capabilities (taking into account all presenting conditions and comorbidities) Develop safe individualised interventions, provide health education, advice and support, Provide rehabilitation and advice for clients at any stage of their allied health treatment plan for their conditions (acute/sub acute stage of injury, surgical intervention or during recovery. In other sessions of this unit you will cover appropriate tools for screening and assessing clients with mental health conditions. The following sections will focus on how to work with those clients that have mental health conditions in combination with other comorbidities. Importance of AEPs for Clients with Mental Health and Comborbid Conditions Individuals with severe mental illness have consistently been found to have higher rates of cardiovascular disease than individuals of the some age with no mental illness. In these populations, the comorbid condition is a contributor to early death (lifespan estimated to be 10-17 years shorter). A key goal for the AEP is implementing lifestyle modifications that aid in the management of the mental condition while also reducing the risk of the development or progression of comorbidities (especially cardiovascular disease). Importance of AEPs for Clients with Mental Health and Comborbid Conditions