• Steven Rudolphy.
• James Cook University, Cairns Base Hospital Campus, Mt Sheridan, Queensland. steven.rudolphy@mtsheridanmedical.com.au
• Aust Fam Physician. 2008 Sep 1; 37 (9): 710-4.

BackgroundAsthma mortality rates in Australia have declined over the past 20 years but are not low by international standards. Evidence based guidelines such as the National Asthma Council's Asthma management handbook, Enhanced Primary Care financial incentives, and practice recall infrastructure can be utilised in general practice to manage patients with asthma.ObjectiveThis article provides an overview of asthma management based on the National Asthma Council's Asthma management handbook.DiscussionAsthma is one of the Australian Government's chronic disease health priorities. To promote ideal asthma care and management, incentives such as the Asthma Cycle of Care, GP Management Plans and Team Care Arrangements have been instituted. However, trends in the use of these incentives must be maintained if we are to continue to reduce Australia's asthma mortality rate.

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