Coordinating change
Pictured: Dr Michael Oladiran with MyMedicare patient Julian Perrin at Westview Medical Centre. (Image: Leigh Henningham)
The general practice sector is undergoing the biggest change since Medicare was created in 1984. New funding and care models are being implemented and adjusted after a lengthy period of stagnation.
patient visits to urgent care clinics in the NWMPHN region to 21 October 2024
of surveyed patients would otherwise have attended an emergency department
Urgent care clinics
Since 2022, 29 urgent care clinics have opened across Victoria. NWMPHN coordinates statewide rollout, working closely with providers, hospitals, Ambulance Victoria and other PHNs to provide care for people with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.
This new model of care is proving successful in Victoria. Quarterly data show the number of category four and five presentations to emergency departments has declined.
Pictured (L-R): Access Health and Community's CEO Anna Robinson, Dr Suleiman Halabi and team leader Katelyn Wall with NWMPHN's Elisa Panozzo at Richmond Urgent Care Clinic. (Image supplied.)
MyMedicare
NWMPHN is supporting more than 500 general practices through a significant period of reform. This includes MyMedicare, which aims to build closer, more accountable and measurable connections between practices and patients, improving continuity of care. More than 85 per cent of practices in our region are participating.
Pictured (L-R): Westview Medical Centre's receptionist Donna Carver, practice manager Tracey Webb, Dr Michael Oladiran and practice nurse Lauren Hwang. (Image: Leigh Henningham)
Strengthening Medicare grants
Throughout 2023-24, NWMPHN supported the Australian Government's $220 million Strengthening Medicare – General Practice Grants Program. This enabled practices and Aboriginal community controlled health organisations to improve their businesses, expand patient access and support safe, accessible quality primary care.
461 NWMPHN practices received a grant. 90 per cent chose to focus on enhancing digital health capability, while 15 registered for accreditation for the first time.
Primary Care Pathways to Safety
NWMPHN is helping lead the primary care response to Australia's family violence epidemic. Following a successful pilot, our Primary Care Pathways to Safety program has been expanded and extended until 2026.
In partnership with the University of Melbourne's Safer Families Centre, the program delivers tailored support to primary care providers, improving whole-of-practice confidence to respond to family violence, and build greater collaboration across health, social care, and family violence services.
HealthPathways Melbourne
HealthPathways Melbourne is our management and referral resource for use during consultations. It gives clinicians a single website to access more than 900 referral pathways, and other resources.
In 2023-24, 31,520 users across the NWMPHN and Eastern Melbourne PHN catchments used HealthPathways, with pathways viewed more than 1.2 million times.
Supporting general practice
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We acknowledge the people of the Kulin nations as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our work in the community takes place. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
We also recognise, respect and affirm the central role played in our work by people with lived experience, their families and carers.
All photos by Leigh Henningham unless otherwise noted.
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