Hi Sue,
QoF (Quality and outcomes Framework) has been around for a few years. It is based on GP 'targets' and specific
chronic illnesses are included within this framework. Each decided marker (point of care) is awarded a cash incentive, cumulatively the minimum marker is
70% of patients within a certain category, if the percentage of patients seen goes up, the cash goes up. Thus, markers like BP, blood test, smoking cessation,
exercise, diet, height, weight and annual or biannual checks. BP to target, weight to target, stopping smoking, losing weight etc. etc. all offer the GP a cash incentive.
I make no comment whether I agree with it or not.
Bringing RA in line is a good thing. Many patients with this crippling disease probably never really get reviewed on an annual basis, yes, they may have bloods done, and get a flu jab etc.
but an assessment of how they are coping, is for many a distant dream. It's hard to accept our care is based on the 'carrot and the stick' - but it is!
What QoF will now do/done is decide which markers should be assessed on an annual or biannual basis. Each practice will have to produce a register of their patients with RA. Armed with that
they will then start calling patients in for review and try to cover all the decided markers, and like I said above, they will all be aiming to reach at least 70% (or more) of all patients and markers,
in order to claim their cash prize. Something they should be doing without incentives!
Hope that helps.
Gogs
