Healthcare Connect North

Healthcare Connect North  is a free service to help you manage your healthcare. We work closely with other services in our community and can connect you with services who can support you.

Accessing Healthcare Connect North

• Healthcare Connect North is for individuals who are experiencing health issues that result in multiple admissions to hospital.
• Patients who meet eligibility criteria will be assessed for suitability for our service.
• At the first visit we will talk with you and with your consent, your GP (General Practitioner).
• We will work out if our service is the right fit for you and work together on a plan for your health care.
• Our team will help you manage your health needs and reduce the time you spend in hospital.
• Healthcare Connect North does not replace an ambulance (000) if your condition is critical and/or an urgent response is required.

Providing your care

We will plan your healthcare. The following people will help:

• nurse 
• doctor
• social worker
• allied health assistant
• your GP

Place of care

We will deliver your care in:

• our clinic
• your home

Healthcare Connect North costs

There is no cost for the Healthcare Connect North service. 

Usual GP and prescription costs

We will work with your GP but the Healthcare Connect North service does not replace your GP.  If you visit your normal GP usual healthcare and prescription costs will apply to you.

Ways we help

Our team will work with you and help with:

• coordination of your care
• making sure your care matches your needs
• provide information and resources
• accessing better healthcare
• managing your own healthcare
• making informed decisions about your healthcare
• connect you with health professionals and services that can provide help

Contact us

• Healthcare Connect North operates from 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
• Phone: 03 6777 4612

After hours

• After-hours advice and support may be accessed through Health Direct on 1800 022 222

Information for health professionals 

Healthcare Connect North

Primary Health Tasmania has commissioned the Tasmanian Health Service to deliver the Healthcare Connect North service as part of Primary Health North. The service is a result of a comprehensive co-design process with key stakeholders including primary care clinicians based in the North of Tasmania.

Patient Eligibility

The service targets a small group of Tasmanians over the age of 18 with multiple chronic conditions, with 4 or more admissions in the previous 12 months who would benefit from targeted support at home or in the community to help reduce the time they spend in hospital.

How will it work?

The Healthcare Connect North team consists of a general practitioner, a nurse, a social worker, an allied health assistant and administrative support. The multidisciplinary team will work in conjunction with the patients regular GP to provide comprehensive primary care. This service does not replace regular primary care provision.

The service will operate Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) between the hours of 8:30am - 5:00pm.

Benefits

The service will provide:

• comprehensive and timely assessment
• targeted support at home or in the community
• coordination of care
• goals of care over an agreed timeframe
• aims to keep people out of hospital
• no out-of-pocket expenses

Evaluation

The development of the Healthcare Connect service has created a unique opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of service provision and practice to improve the health care of this high-need, complex patient group. An evaluation team has been engaged including senior clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.

Feedback

• We encourage GPs to contact us with their ideas and suggestions on individual patients or the service overall.
• We welcome feedback on how to improve the service.
• Phone: 03 6777 4612