45-49 year old health assessment
45-49 year old health assessments are designed to identify risk factors for developing chronic disease, and aid patients a this stage of life to make lifestyle changes to prevent and reduce risk of chronic disease.
Assessment at mid-life is particularly important in prevention of dementia as it is generally clinically silent disorder that begins in mid-life, with symptoms only developing at a late stage. Therefore significant benefits can be gained addressing modifiable risk factors to reduce the risk of, or delay the onset of, dementia. For further information about risk reduction see here.
Eligibility criteria
Patients aged 45 to 49 years inclusive
Must have an identified risk factor for chronic disease
- Lifestyle: smoking; physical inactivity; poor nutrition; alcohol use
- Biomedical: high cholesterol; high BP; impaired glucose metabolism; excess weight
- Family history of chronic disease
Not for patients in a hospital
Health assessment content
Explain Health Assessment process and gain consent
Information collection – takes patient history; undertake examinations and investigations as clinically required
Overall assessment of the patient’s health, including their readiness to make lifestyle changes
Initiate interventions and referrals as clinically indicated
Advice and information about lifestyle modification programs and strategies to achieve lifestyle and behaviour changes
Written patient information is recommended (non-mandatory)
Documentation requirements
Record patient’s consent to Health Assessment
Record the time taken by the nurse and the GP and add together
Record the Health Assessment and offer the patient a copy
Claiming
Under MBS items 701 / 703 / 705 / 707
All elements of the service must be completed to claim