GPs welcome evidence-based care guidelines

Press release from the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has welcomed moves by ACC to follow evidence-based care guidelines for sensitive claims clients.
College president, Dr Harry Pert, said the new guidelines will ensure patients receive best practice care that has been proven to deliver optimum results.
“The team approach has been proven to be the most effective in cases of mild to moderate mental injury.” Dr Pert said.
“Recent pilot programmes have shown that very good results come from doctors working together with counsellors, psychologists and others.”
“ACC’s practice guidelines for sexual abuse and mental injury will strengthen these results still further. All the clinical evidence suggests the new approach ACC is adopting will be in the best interests of the patient,” Dr Pert said.
“By working with psychologists early on, GPs, counsellors and others will be able to provide the best and most focussed care possible.”
ACC’s new treatment framework is in line with the recommendations of the Massey guidelines for the assessment and treatment of mental injury as a result of sexual assault and sexual abuse.
Published in 2008, the Massey guidelines outline a clear, evidence-based approach for the most effective treatment and rehabilitation of people who have suffered sexual abuse.
“The provision of safe, quality treatment and care that suits patients’ needs and provides them with the very best health outcomes, is a major goal of the College. It is very pleasing to know that ACC’s new approach is based on extensive research and clinical evidence,” Dr Pert said.

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