Chronic Disease Management refers to the systematic approach to healthcare that focuses on managing long-term health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. In Primary Care Networks, it involves coordinated care delivery, regular monitoring, preventive interventions, and patient education to improve outcomes, reduce complications, and enhance quality of life for people with ongoing health challenges.
Primary Care Networks deliver Chronic Disease Management through a team-based approach, bringing together GPs, practice nurses, clinical pharmacists, social prescribers, and other healthcare professionals. They implement structured care plans, shared protocols, regular reviews, and risk stratification to identify patients requiring different levels of support. Many PCNs also use remote monitoring technology, group consultations, and integrated care pathways to coordinate services across primary, community, and secondary care settings.
Chronic conditions typically managed within a PCN's Chronic Disease Management programme include diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, depression, dementia, and osteoporosis. PCNs also often manage patients with multimorbidity (multiple chronic conditions), with services tailored to meet the complexity of their care needs.
Effective Chronic Disease Management in Primary Care Networks delivers numerous benefits, including reduced hospital admissions and A&E attendances, better control of conditions, improved patient outcomes and quality of life, enhanced patient experience through coordinated care, greater efficiency in healthcare resource utilisation, reduced health inequalities, and cost savings for the NHS. Patients benefit from having care closer to home with a team familiar with their individual needs and circumstances.
Patients are central to Chronic Disease Management within PCNs, actively participating through shared decision-making about treatment goals, personalised care planning, supported self-management, health education programmes, and sometimes peer support groups. Many PCNs use the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) to assess patients' knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their health, tailoring support accordingly. Digital tools like apps and online platforms also enable patients to track symptoms, medication adherence, and communicate with their healthcare team.
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What does Chronic Disease Management mean?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Chronic Disease Management refers to the systematic approach to healthcare that focuses on managing long-term health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. In Primary Care Networks, it involves coordinated care delivery, regular monitoring, preventive interventions, and patient education to improve outcomes, reduce complications, and enhance quality of life for people with ongoing health challenges."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "How do Primary Care Networks deliver Chronic Disease Management?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Primary Care Networks deliver Chronic Disease Management through a team-based approach, bringing together GPs, practice nurses, clinical pharmacists, social prescribers, and other healthcare professionals. They implement structured care plans, shared protocols, regular reviews, and risk stratification to identify patients requiring different levels of support. Many PCNs also use remote monitoring technology, group consultations, and integrated care pathways to coordinate services across primary, community, and secondary care settings."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What chronic conditions are typically managed within a PCN's Chronic Disease Management programme?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Chronic conditions typically managed within a PCN's Chronic Disease Management programme include diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, depression, dementia, and osteoporosis. PCNs also often manage patients with multimorbidity (multiple chronic conditions), with services tailored to meet the complexity of their care needs."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What are the benefits of effective Chronic Disease Management in Primary Care Networks?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Effective Chronic Disease Management in Primary Care Networks delivers numerous benefits, including reduced hospital admissions and A&E attendances, better control of conditions, improved patient outcomes and quality of life, enhanced patient experience through coordinated care, greater efficiency in healthcare resource utilisation, reduced health inequalities, and cost savings for the NHS. Patients benefit from having care closer to home with a team familiar with their individual needs and circumstances."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "How are patients involved in Chronic Disease Management within PCNs?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Patients are central to Chronic Disease Management within PCNs, actively participating through shared decision-making about treatment goals, personalised care planning, supported self-management, health education programmes, and sometimes peer support groups. Many PCNs use the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) to assess patients' knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their health, tailoring support accordingly. Digital tools like apps and online platforms also enable patients to track symptoms, medication adherence, and communicate with their healthcare team."
}
}
]
}