Early intervention in chronic disease
Integrated Chronic Disease Management encompasses the continuum of care from prevention through to treatment and care management.
A visual representation of a schema for chronic disease management, from prevention to intensive case management for people with chronic disease and/or complex needs is provided below:
This schema describes four levels and intensity of care for people with chronic and/or complex needs. Early intervention approaches are targeted at Level 3 of this continuum.
The Early Intervention in Chronic Disease (EIiCD) initiative is a Victorian Government initiative, focussing on improving the health system's capacity to respond the needs of people with chronic disease. Implementing effective ICDM strategies requires agencies to make changes to the way they practise and provide care. The EIiCD initiative focuses on new and innovative approaches to providing care to people with chronic disease. The two objectives of the EIiCD initiative are:
- Engage in broad organisational-wide service improvements - underpinned by The Chronic Care model
- Provide additional services to people with chronic disease - integrated with existing services
The IEPCP currently has two Community Health Services receiving funding for EIiCD. These are: