Chronic Conditions Management Model (CCMM) for primary care in the UK

Introduction: Chronic condition management has been structured around models that aim at facilitating and development of care through initiatives of self-management, organisational restructuring and information system enhancement. Aim: Investigate issues around UK’s health care framework adopted for chronic condition management. Results: UK’s health care framework for chronic condition care draws upon the Chronic Care Model and Innovation Care for Chronic Conditions framework. However, consideration to the clarity or vagueness of boundaries between different hierarchical structures and awareness of each structure about its focus and contribution to overall health system are not taken into account by these models. The proposed Chronic Condition Management Model is different as it is targeted at primary care which plays a salient role of gate keeping. Change implemented here would lead to better clinical effectiveness, increase in efficiency of the system and reduction in cost. This model does not directly call for policy change; instead it recommends incorporating available evidence into the policy. It calls for empowering the patient by providing health literacy and improving awareness, and for collaboration and cooperation between primary, secondary, tertiary, community and social care services. Conclusion: Initiatives towards chronic condition management should be enacted at primary care due to its gate keeping role in the UK’s health care system. Keyword chronic condition management, primary care, chronic condition management model, UK Presentation slides available from: http://www.bridgingknowledge.net/Presentations/Poster_Sharma.pdf International Journal of Integrated Care – Vol. 9, 22 June 2009 – ISSN 1568-4156 – http://www.ijic.org/