Comprehensive health assessments

Several health assessment tools are available that are specific to people with intellectual or developmental disability. Some examples are included in Some health assessment tools for people with developmental disability. It is recommended these assessments are conducted annually.

Medicare items may apply for annual health assessments and care planning (eg Prolonged Health Assessment, GP Management Plan, Team Care Arrangements, Chronic Disease Management) in this group of patients; for more advice, see here. Consider booking multiple appointments to allow time to complete the assessment. A practice nurse and other members of the multidisciplinary team can also contribute to these assessments.

Some tools (eg Comprehensive Health Assessment Programme [CHAP]) include a section for the person or their carers or support people to complete and bring to the appointment.

Figure 1. Some health assessment tools for people with developmental disability.

[NB1]

Comprehensive Health Assessment Programme (CHAP)

A validated Australian tool produced by the University of Queensland.

Welsh health check

A tool produced by Cardiff University; endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (United Kingdom).

Health Check (Surrey Place)

A tool produced by Surrey Place (Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Program) in affiliation with the University of Toronto; recommended in the 2018 Canadian consensus guidelines for primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD).

Note: NB1: This is not an exhaustive list.

For practical advice on physical examination of people with developmental disability, including strategies to alleviate anxiety, see Physical examination and investigations and Opportunistic examinations and procedures.