Primary Care Impact
Menu
Menu
Menu
Healthy North Coast has commissioned a new service, North Coast Health Connect, to provide 24/7 nurse triage and navigation of our local healthcare system. The service is now available across the North Coast of NSW.
North Coast Health Connect is provided in partnership with Amplar Health and will assist the primary care network to manage demand by:
Community pharmacists will play an important role in the model of care and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, through Amplar Health, are working with community pharmacists to join the triage network.
This is an exciting opportunity for greater integration of the primary healthcare system and for community pharmacists to be involved in an innovative, remunerated service.
North Coast Health Connect was commissioned through the Primary Care Access Project after a collaborative period of data analysis and codesign.
Health consumers can contact the triage service by phone call or web chat 24/7, where a registered nurse will triage the presenting problem. Triage outcomes include:
View the consumer journey and brief service overview.
North Coast Health Connect will be evaluated over five years by The George Institute.
North Coast Health Connect is continuing to onboard new general practice and pharmacy partners to support primary care access on the North Coast. Click here to view the North Coast Health Connect — Participating General Practice and Pharmacy Services map.
In partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, North Coast Health Connect has developed a new low-acuity referral option to see a community pharmacist within 24 hours. Community pharmacies can elect to receive triaged consumers from North Coast Health Connect via a digitally integrated booking system.
The services provided by community pharmacists in the triage network are within the current scope of practice for Australian pharmacists.
See here for more information about how consumers are triaged to community pharmacy.
The appointment booking service is supported by a customised digital interface that can only be accessed by the triage nurse (not open to the public).
The consumer will receive a private 1:1 consultation with a community pharmacist, supported by evidence-based guidelines. The type of management interventions provided by the pharmacist include:
Registered community pharmacies will receive remuneration for participating in the service delivery and for each consultation.
North Coast Health Connect will be rolled out progressively (by SA3) as follows:
A limited number of pharmacies will be selected to participate based on location and eligibility criteria. Pharmacies will be selected based on location, accessibility (i.e. opening hours) and privacy requirements. In the case where more pharmacies apply than places available, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia will select participants based on which pharmacy best meets the eligibility criteria.
Expressions of interest have now closed. For further information please contact Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Project Manager Lead, Chris Braithwaite at [email protected]
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands across our region, and pay our respect to Elders past, present and on their journey. We recognise these lands were never ceded and acknowledge the continuation of culture and connection to the land, sky and sea. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Land’s first peoples and honour the rich diversity of the oldest living cultures.
Strategic Priority Area: One team
North Coast is identified as the region most likely to be impacted by climate change in Australia and also forecasted greatest growth in those 65+.
Healthy North Coast takes a lead role in ensuring the older population and the sector that supports them are prepared for, can respond to and recover from disasters and other emergencies.
We have led eight regional disaster management capacity building workshops, bringing together SES, community organisations and the aged care sector.
We have also developed disaster preparedness tip sheets for both residential and community aged care providers.
Strategic Priority Area: One team
In May 2022, the NSW Parliament passed the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2022. Effective from Tuesday, 28 November 2023, eligible people have the choice to access voluntary assisted dying.
Healthy North Coast has developed a webpage for both health professionals and consumers, with links to available information and resources.
Strategic Priority Area: No one is left behind
Healthy North Coast has worked with people living with dementia, their families and local service providers to develop an information booklet that will help them connect with local and national supports along their journey.
The booklet includes commonly asked questions for people to ask their GP and/or specialist.
The resource is available in digital and printed copies, with more than 5,000 distributed across the region. An e-version is available to clinicians via the Dementia and Cognitive Impairment HealthPathway.
Strategic Priority Area: One team
The Deteriorating Resident Response Tool (DRRT) has been developed to guide RN’s in Residential Aged Care homes (RACHs) to better understand, anticipate and make clinical decisions responding to the deteriorating health of residents.
The objective of the DRRT is to give RACH staff clear information to triage and provide appropriate care for a range of residents’ health conditions, and, in turn, prevent unnecessary presentations to ED.
The tool has been designed together with a specialist geriatrician, consulting with stakeholders such as Residential Aged Care Managers, NSW Ambulance, GPs, and experts from Mid and North Coast LHDs.
The pilot commences in March with four participating RACHs. Evaluation measures will include effectiveness in building RN confidence and reported reduction in unnecessary hospitalisations. Findings will inform a future planned, region-wide implementation.
Strategic Priority Area: No one is left behind
The Care Finders program is a free region-wide service to support vulnerable older people who have no-one else to help them, to learn about, apply for and set up support services.
Care finders can help people understand what aged care services are available, set up an assessment, and find and choose services. They also help people with access to other supports in the community, both accessing services for the first time and changing or finding new services and supports.
On the North Coast, Healthy North Coast has commissioned four organisations to provide this important service: EACH, Carexcell, Lifetime Connect and Footprints.
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
Healthy North Coast commissions two service providers to deliver psychological therapies and supports for older people with, or at risk of developing, a mental illness and who are living in residential aged care homes (RACHs).
The aim of the program is to both provide direct support to residents and their families and carers, as well as upskill the RACH workforce to respond to the needs of residents presenting with mental health concerns.
Strategic Priority Area: Securing a Healthier Future
Delivered by Feros Care, the Healthy Me, Healthy Community program aims to build individual and community connections to reduce loneliness and improve wellbeing in Port Macquarie.
The program helps people to connect with community, activities, supports and services that address their broader social determinants of health, as an alternative or supplement to a clinical approach.
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
Timely access to primary health care professionals, whether through face-to-face consultation or telehealth, is recognised as an issue for many Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs), that in some cases can lead to potentially preventable hospitalisations. RACHs require adequate telehealth facilities to support access to virtual consultations for their residents.
Project goals
Strategic Priority Area: Improving Lives Now
Aims to provide people who have life limiting conditions the opportunity to exercise choice and receive high quality care at home, harnessing improved and better coordinated supports and services that meet their individual needs.
Program objectives:
These objectives will contribute to achieving the following intended overarching outcomes of:
Funding is open to all primary care providers within disaster affected communities across the Healthy North Coast footprint.
Workforce Locum support and R&R funding criteria
Wellbeing Flexible Funding Criteria & Eligibility
| *Team Size (Total staff and contractors) | Funding Available |
| Small (1-5) | $500-$1500 |
| Medium (6-20) | $1500-$4000 |
| Large (>20) | $4000-$5000 |
Primary Health Coordinators