*“The FMM promotes screening for early diagnosis of risk factors, and disease. It provides better access to specialist services in the community and effective management of stable chronic conditions, locally, close to the home”
Taking Qatar's healthcare services to a higher level, the Family Medicine Model (FMM), launched recently by the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), aims to provide integrated services.
“Each person will have an assigned family practitioner and access to a trained health team that provides appropriate level of advice, diagnoses and treatment, with continuity of care across the health system and co-ordinated health services,” says PHCC's Corporate Strategic Plan 2019-2023.
FMM is intended to support people to live healthier lives in their communities, from a healthy birth, to a vibrant old-age free from the burden of disease.
While launching the report, Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, managing director PHCC said, “We have already rolled out the family medicine concept at all the health centres which is almost complete, expanding core services, and reviewing pathways for key population groups. The new strategy calls for a Future Family Medicine model of care based on better system collaboration across the whole sector, and improved access to more comprehensive services in the community.”
According to the strategic plan, the FMM will move the primary health care focus from disease treatment to disease prevention.
“The FMM promotes screening for early diagnosis of risk factors, and disease. It provides better access to specialist services in the community and effective management of stable chronic conditions, locally, close to the home. The FMM reflects a global shift in healthcare management and approach, and will work in partnership with the patient, to meet their health goals,” notes the report.
The PHCC strategy aims to improve timeliness of service provision, and increase accessibility to care by continuing the facilities expansion programme for new and existing health centres, and wider access options through technology and innovation; expand SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) health checks to the wider population and extend the home health care service to include post-natal visits.
It also aims to deliver comprehensive, integrated and coordinated care, enhance non-communicable disease services in the community through centralised co-ordination and case management, a broader range of specialist services, and self-management programmes; improve local community services for priority population groups; implement regional specialist hubs; expand the scope of primary care to reduce outpatient waiting times, and expand access to diagnostic facilities in the community.
By the end of 2018, PHCC had the first phase of the FFM implemented in 12 health centres across the country. There are integrated electronic medical records, across primary and secondary care, with access for patients through the myHealth Portal. The new facilities provide greater access to a wider range of services, improved coordination, integration and seamless delivery across a range of healthcare.
