Priority Primary Care Centre Provider Materials

PPCCs must partner with the targeted Emergency Departments in nominated locations, and have the facilities and infrastructure to support effective patient management in line with the PPCC Service Model including:

• private treatment rooms
• appropriate waiting areas which are accessible and enable social distancing
• ambulance access
• telehealth facilities
• ability to comply with infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines and the use of personal protective equipment.

PPCCs will ensure they are accessible through the ease of access and extended hours by following the requirements of:

• open for extended hours (up to 16 hours per day), seven days a week, including public holidays
• provide safe after-hours access
• be accessible for patients by offering access via public transport, onsite or nearby carparking, and have dedicated ambulance access
• provide bookings and services via pre-booking appointments (phone or online booking system), referral and walk-in appointments available.

PPCCs are a general practitioner led service, supported by nursing and administration staff, and will provide care for people of all ages with low acuity conditions. To do this, PPCCs must provide the following:

• appropriate triage protocols and procedures
• have capacity and capability to assess and treat a broad range of low acuity presentations in both adults and children, for example, fractures, burns, mild infections
• provide services to people with or without a Medicare Card, with no out of pocket costs to patients
• have capacity and capability to treat diverse patient cohorts including vulnerable and at-risk populations.

Refer to the following documents for guidance in preparation for the set-up of your PPCC:

1. Appendix 1a-PPCC Sector facing Inclusion Criteria
2. Appendix 1b-PPCC Sector facing Exclusion Criteria
3. Appendix 1c-PPCC Combined Inclusion Exclusion Criteria
4. Appendix 2-CRG (Clinical Reference Group) Recommended Minimum Lists for PPCC (Equipment)
5. PPCC MBS Items List
6. PPCC CRG (Clinical Reference Group) Bulletin 07 Dec 2022
7. Operational Guidance for Urgent Care Clinics - Endorsed by SOAG 14 Nov 2022 (example of similar model)

To download these as one document, click here.

Data/Custom billing codes

PPCCs must set up custom billing codes in preparation for opening. This important step will ensure data is accurately reported in accordance with the PPCC data specifications and requirements.

Each user guide has three sections: how to set up custom items; how to configure clinician profile with the custom item to enable correct use and how to apply the custom item during the patient visit.

1. PPCC Custom Billing Coding - MD Pracsoft codes
2. PPCC - User Guide Best Practice

Advertising and branding

Murray PHN's communications team are happy to support PPCCs to use interim naming for signage and advertising. Collateral such as posters and flyers will be emailed and added to this webpage as they are made available, including translated resources.

• PPCC messaging - plain English
• PPCC website template

Patient surveys

Surveys have been developed to support the collective understanding of service usage, patient experience and for quality improvement.

There are two surveys: a pre-survey to be done at the clinic via unique QR code and a post-survey for people who consent to follow up. The post survey will be sent 2-3 days after their PPCC visit via SMS or email.

• PPCC survey FAQ Shepparton
• PPCC survey FAQ Wodonga
• PPCC pre-consultation patient survey (for interested clinicians)
• PPCC post-consultation patient survey
• PPCC suggested workflow instruction for the clinic (to display the flyer and QR code when the person is in attendance)

Community of Practice and Basecamp

All PPCC providers will be invited to a Community of Practice Basecamp. Attendance at monthly PPCC Community of Practice meetings is required and provides an opportunity for the sharing of ideas, resources and updates between sites.

To download these as one document, click here. Noting that the survey FAQs need to be printed separately. 

Murray PHN will facilitate local working groups for each PPCC and partnered hospital, along with a local representative for Ambulance Victoria and the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department.

A list of key contacts has been developed and will be added to as representatives are identified:

• Local working group contacts Shepparton
• Local working group contacts Wodonga