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]
Healthy North Coast acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands across our region and pays respect to the Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise these lands were never ceded and acknowledge the continuation of culture and connection to land, sky and sea. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s First Peoples and honour the rich diversity of the world’s oldest living cultures.
Primary Health Coordinators