GP Hub

Organisation / Service

InsideOut Institute

The GP Hub is for use at the point of care and includes a suite of digital tools and information designed to save time, enhance workflow and support diagnosis, assessment and treatment. The role of the GP is increasingly complex and demanding. When it comes to people with eating disorders, many GPs feel they lack the sufficient knowledge and skills to identify and treat people with the illness.

The Hub aims to help GPs identify people sooner and give them the resources they need to intervene early and help people to avoid more severe and longer-term illnesses. The goal is to see the GP Hub and tools used in general practices in every city, region, and town across the country.

National Strategy Standards and Actions

Identification

Standard 2: Professionals at key entry or referral points (e.g., GPs, emergency department staff, school counsellors, mental health professionals, dietitians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, Alcohol and Other Drug workers, staff in sporting/performance organisations) can recognise eating disorder warning signs and symptoms and provide or support access to an initial response.

Action 2.2:Eating disorder service development and lived experience organisations to disseminate accessible online/face-to-face training, and evidence-based screening tools to support health and mental health professionals in identification.

Action 2.3: Eating disorder service development, lived experience organisations and Primary Health Networks to disseminate information about service pathways to support system navigation and referral by health and mental health professionals.

Initial Response

Standard 2: GPs and other medical professionals including emergency department staff can conduct an initial eating disorder assessment including medical and psychiatric risk, make
a preliminary diagnosis, provide psychoeducation, refer the person to the appropriate level of treatment, engage the person and family/supports, and continue to provide medical
monitoring/treatment throughout any waiting time for mental health treatment.

Action 2.1: Training providers to ensure that general practitioners are trained to conduct an initial eating disorder assessment including psychiatric and medical risk, make a preliminary diagnosis, provide psychoeducation, refer the person to the appropriate level of treatment, engage the person and family/supports, and continue to provide medical monitoring/treatment throughout any waiting time for mental health treatment.

Standard 4: 

Action 4.1: Eating disorder service development organisations to continue to develop and disseminate online/face-to-face training, validated assessment tools, and psychoeducation resources to support health and mental health professionals in assessment, preliminary diagnosis, and in engaging the person and family/supports.

Treatment (community-based)

Standard 3: GPs and paediatricians are equipped to provide ongoing medical monitoring and treatment for people with eating disorders, in conjunction with other medical professionals as needed.

Action 3.1: Eating disorder organisations and training providers to continue to provide and promote tailored and accessible online training and resources for general practitioners and other medical professionals in management of eating disorders.