Adult Health

Adult Health services are designed to help you identify risk factors and manage existing conditions that may otherwise reduce your quality of life and limit you as you age. With the help of your doctor, you can work towards reducing the impact chronic conditions could have on your life and focus on healthy aging.

Health Checks

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Your health needs change throughout your life, and so do your health risks. A health check can help your doctor assess your current health and the risks that may impact your health later.
Eligibility:
> 45-49 years of age (once off assessment) or, > 75+ years of age (annual assessments) or, > Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (annual assessments & Closing The Gap).
What is involved
Your health check will start with your current health and lifestyle habits. You will generally be asked about:
  • A family history,
  • Your current physical activity routine,
  • Any limits to physical activity or serious past injuries,
  • Frequency and quantity of smoking,
  • Frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed,
  • Current list of medications,
  • Current list of vaccinations,
  • General sleep habits,
  • Your work schedule and the tasks you undertake,
  • Your exposure to hazardous materials.
Depending on your responses you may be asked to undertake:
  • An ECG (heart check)
  • Spirometry (lung capacity test)
  • Diabetes risk assessment
  • Blood pressure reading
  • Cholesterol test
  • Thyroid activity check
  • A blood test

Health Screening

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Health screening is an invaluable way of detecting a health condition early, before symptoms may be noticeable. In many cases, early detection can improve your prognosis (outlook) and can even save lives.
Eligibility:
The Eligibility for different screening programs often varies. Your doctor can help you determine if you are eligible and if you would benefit from screening.
Screening available
You can access a number of screening programs through the Family Practice Medical Centres, including:
  • Skin Cancer Checks
  • HPV/Cervical Screening
  • Breast Checks
  • Prostate Checks
  • Testicular Checks
  • Diabetes Assessment
  • Asthma Assessment
  • Osteoporosis screening (Bone Mineral Density checks)

Managing Chronic Conditions

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Chronic conditions can affect anyone. But the risk generally increases with age. So they are more likely to impact your adult health. Your family history and lifestyle will also be contributing factors.

Care Plans:

Care plans are a useful tool that can help you access other allied health services in order to better manage your condition. Arranged by your doctor, a care plan is generally renewed each year and may include a 6 monthly review.

What are chronic conditions/diseases/illnesses

Chronic conditions are diseases or illnesses that are experienced over a long-term period, and can often remain for life. Symptoms are not always obvious, and can develop slowly over months or years. When a condition is diagnosed it can be a shock and require a number of lifestyle changes. To help you adjust to these changes, your GP will often arrange a Care Plan. This will help assess the severity of the condition and guide your treatment. Sometimes you may even need help from a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. In these cases your GP will establish a team care arrangement, that allows you to access bulk billed allied health services, such as psychologists, physios, dietitians and podiatrists. Common chronic conditions include:

  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic Pain
  • Coeliac Disease
  • COPD
  • Emphysema
  • Endometriosis
  • Heart Disease
  • High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
  • High Cholesterol
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Kidney Disease
  • Liver Disease
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Mental Health

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Your mental health can have a huge impact on your overall health and wellbeing. But your health can also affect your mental health, with some health conditions being a cause of stress and anxiety. So taking care of yourself has never been more important.
Mental Health Providers:
> Carolyn Telfer – Yamba NSW > Vanessa Elliott – The Gap, Brisbane > Dr Craig Dobbs – Kallangur, Brisbane > Ravi Tewari – Kallangur, Brisbane > Royce – Bundaberg QLD
Mental health conditions
Our mental health is important, but like our general health, it can be impacted by illnesses. Mental illness can take a toll on your mental health either swiftly as a result of sudden stressors, or gradually over a longer period of time. These illnesses can make it difficult to cope with work, relationships and daily life. However, help is available and you are not alone. Your GP can offer support, treatments and referrals to other specialists. For general information and crisis support services you can visit: > Black Dog Institute > Beyond Blue or call 1300 22 4636 > LifeLine or call 13 11 14 Mental health conditions include:
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Paranoia
  • Psychosis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Eating disorders
  • Adjustment disorders
  • Attachment disorders
  • Behavioural disorders
  • Personality disorders
  • Post traumatic stress
  • Dissociative disorders
  • Obsessive compulsive disorders