Why HealthPathways Matters for Primary Health Network
HealthPathways is a practical, evidence‑based platform that provides GPs and other primary care clinicians with locally tailored information on assessment, management, and referral pathways. For the Primary Health Network (PHN) region, adopting HealthPathways means faster, more consistent care, reduced unnecessary referrals, and improved patient outcomes. A growing majority of GPs in the area already benefit from a personal HealthPathways account, and the remaining practices have a clear pathway to join.
Current Adoption and Regional Impact
Across the PHN region, about 85% of general practitioners (GPs) have a personal HealthPathways account. This high level of participation helps ensure that frontline clinicians have rapid access to up-to-date, locally relevant information on common presentations, emergency management, infection control, and referral options. By standardizing guidance across practices, HealthPathways supports cohesive care for patients who move between primary care and hospital settings.
What’s New: Central Coast and Hunter New England Updates
Regional hubs continually publish and revise pathways to reflect evolving guidelines, emerging evidence, and local service capacity. Notable developments include:
- Central Coast Community HealthPathways: New pathways such as Infectious Gastroenteritis in Adults, Urgent General Surgery Assessment, Facial Palsy, Ear Wax, Abnormal Liver Function Tests, and MAFLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease).
- Recently reviewed: 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).
- Hunter New England Community HealthPathways: Updates include Non-acute and Acute Chest Pain, Bariatric Surgery, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Transgender Health – Specialist Referrals, and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.
To help clinicians stay current, the Central Coast Daily Updates page highlights what has changed in recently updated pathways, ensuring that practices can act quickly on revisions.
How to Access HealthPathways in the PHN Region
Getting a personal HealthPathways account is straightforward and free for GPs and authorized staff. If your practice hasn’t joined yet, you’re encouraged to register to gain direct access to succinct, locally relevant guidance. Registration details and instructions can be found on the PHN Information page.
For support, or to request a visit or online training, contact the PHN by email at CCHealthPathways@thephn.com.au or HNEHealthPathways@thephn.com.au. The PHN team can assist with account setup, onboarding, and tailored training sessions to fit your clinic’s workflow.
Benefits for Everyday Practice
When GPs and practice teams leverage HealthPathways, they gain:
- Structured, locally relevant guidance for common presentations and emergencies
- Clear, step-by-step referral pathways to hospitals and allied services
- Consistent care decisions across multiple providers and sites
- Improved patient experience through faster, evidence-based decision making
Importantly, HealthPathways does not replace clinical judgment but augments it with reliable, contextually appropriate information that aligns with regional health services.
Next Steps for Practices
If you’re a GP or practice staff member in the PHN region and are not yet using HealthPathways, consider taking the following steps:
- Visit the PHN HealthPathways information hub to locate registration instructions
- Submit a request for a personal HealthPathways account and confirm eligibility
- Schedule an introductory training session—online or on-site—to integrate HealthPathways into daily workflows
- Regularly check the Central Coast Daily Updates for changes to existing pathways
Conclusion
By joining the growing number of GPs using HealthPathways within the Primary Health Network, clinicians can access streamlined, locally tailored guidance that supports safer, faster, and more consistent patient care. Whether you’re in Central Coast or Hunter New England, registering for a personal HealthPathways account and engaging with available training will help your practice stay aligned with the latest regional pathways and standards.
