Unlocking Local, Up-to-Date Care Pathways for GPs
For many General Practitioners (GPs) in the Primary Health Network (PHN) region, HealthPathways is a trusted, constantly refreshed source of concise information on patient assessment, management, and local referral pathways. If your practice isn’t using HealthPathways yet, you’re missing a crucial tool that peers across the region are leveraging to enhance patient care and streamline decision-making.
How to Join: Personal HealthPathways Accounts
PHN clinics in the Central Coast and Hunter New England areas are encouraging GPs to activate personal HealthPathways accounts. A personal account provides rapid, point-of-care access to current guidelines and locally relevant pathways. Registration is straightforward, with information available on the PHN’s HealthPathways hub. By creating a personal account, you gain direct access to succinct, up-to-date information that supports daily clinical decisions without leaving the patient encounter.
What’s New Across Central Coast and Hunter New England
Central Coast Community HealthPathways has introduced a set of new pathways designed to address common, time-sensitive presentations. Recent additions include:
- Infectious Gastroenteritis in Adults
- Urgent General Surgery Assessment
- Facial Palsy
- Earl Wax
- Abnormal Liver Function Tests
- Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)
In addition to new entries, several pathways have been recently reviewed to reflect the latest clinical guidance and local workflows. Updates cover topics such as:
- Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Breaches
- Preparing a General Practice for a Disaster
- Immunisation in Pregnancy
- Positional Plagiocephaly and Craniosynostosis
- Driver Assessment of Older Persons
- Gynaecomastia
- Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
To stay informed about what changed in these pathways, clinicians are encouraged to visit the Central Coast Daily Updates page, which highlights the latest edits and additions. This ensures your practice remains aligned with up-to-date, locally relevant guidance that supports safe, efficient patient care.
Hunter New England: Recently Reviewed Pathways
Similarly, the Hunter New England region has refreshed several important pathways. Recent reviews include:
- Non-acute Chest Pain
- Acute Chest Pain
- Bariatric Surgery
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Transgender Health – Specialist Referrals
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
These updates reflect ongoing efforts to improve clinical decision support at the point of care. By leveraging up-to-date pathways, GPs can deliver timely, evidence-informed care while optimizing referral processes within the local health system.
Registration and Support: Getting Help Quickly
If you or your team need help registering a personal HealthPathways account, or you’d like a visit or online training, support is readily available. You can email CCHealthPathways@thephn.com.au or HNEHealthPathways@thephn.com.au to request assistance. The PHN team is equipped to arrange tailored training sessions and on-site visits to ensure your practice can maximize the benefits of HealthPathways from day one.
Why HealthPathways Matters for Your Practice
HealthPathways serves as a centralized, locally relevant knowledge base that aligns clinical practice with regional services. For GPs, this means faster decision-making, clearer referral pathways, and improved consistency in patient care. By adopting a personal HealthPathways account, you join a growing majority of GPs who already rely on this resource to support everyday clinical decisions, manage patient expectations, and coordinate with hospitals and allied health services efficiently.
Next Steps
Ready to get started? Visit the HealthPathways registration information page for your region, set up a personal account, and begin exploring the newest and most relevant pathways for your patient population. For hands-on help, reach out to the PHN contacts listed above to arrange registration support or a training session for your practice team.
