Value Based Urgent Care
By providing access to urgent care services at alternative locations, the Value Based Urgent Care initiative aims to reduce the number of non-urgent presentations to Western Sydney emergency departments (ED). People who would usually present to EDs with a condition that requires urgent treatment, but isn’t life-threatening (Triage 4 and Triage 5), can receive the same level of care that is patient-centred and cost-effective by attending an Urgent Care Service.
Aim of the Pathway
Value Based Urgent Care aims to reduce the number of low acuity conditions requiring ‘urgent’ treatment presenting to Western Sydney emergency departments, through the provision of sustainable, alternative, local patient-centred urgent care services.
Target Cohort
Value Based Urgent Care is for patients with low acuity conditions (minor injuries and illnesses) who would have otherwise gone to a Western Sydney emergency department for treatment.
Care Pathway Design
This vision for urgent treatment of patients has been designed in line with the patient care continuum and is divided into four stages:Key Aspects
Urgent Care Service
Urgent Care Service (UCS) centres provide care for semi-urgent and non-life-threatening conditions. Urgent care is when a patient requires medical attention for an acute illness or injury, or the ailment or injury requires attention but isn’t quite severe enough for an emergency department (ED) presentation. If presenting to the ED, these patients would likely be triaged as a category 4 or 5.
UCSs focus on upskilling and utilising existing resources. This network-based approach leverages the value provided by practices by making the most of existing infrastructure and resources to deliver urgent care services under the Value Based Urgent Care pathway. This enables UCS centres to be run predominantly via a network of GPs in partnership with other providers within the Healthcare Neighbourhood. UCS centres provide regular primary care as well as urgent care, they are therefore enhanced general practices.
Reduces patient demand for the ED by treating injuries/ailments not quite severe enough for a visit to ED
Urgent Care Service - Level 1
Wound management (suture, stitching, wound incision and drainage, bandaging)
Basic fracture management (backslab, slings, and aid/equipment prescribing)
Urgent Care Service - Level 2
Ability to insert intravenous lines and catheters to allow for IV antibiotics, infusions and catheter changes
Exclusions: Patients over 65 years who require an infusion, patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients with cardiac/chest pain, severe abdominal pain, serious breathing difficulties and patients with primary mental health diagnosis.
FAQs for GPs
FAQs for the Community
The objective of the Value Based Urgent Care (VBUC) initiative is to reduce the number of patients requiring non-life-threatening urgent treatment presenting to Western Sydney emergency departments (EDs), by providing sustainable, alternative local patient-centred urgent care services, at the right time and in the right place.
This vision for urgent care treatment of patients is divided into four stages:
- Awareness
- Intake and access
- Treatment and referral
- Discharge and ongoing care
This Value Based Urgent Care pathway design offers a unique approach with the establishment of Urgent Care Service (UCS) centres that are tailored to meet the needs of Western Sydney. UCSs will be supported by a network-based approach, with a focus on upskilling and utilising existing primary care resources. This means that UCSs will be run predominately via a network of GPs in partnership with other providers within the Healthcare Neighbourhood (HCN).
The Urgent Care Line (UCL) is a dedicated phone service and an essential component, designed to refer the patient to the right care at the right time. This service will have a key role in supporting and directing patients to a range of care providers in Western Sydney, not just UCS providers. Referral can also be made to the ED, hospital-based services, community-based services and general practices.
A key point of difference for this pathway design is the clinical workforce supporting the UCL, ensuring that patients are assessed by a clinician prior to presenting at a UCS provider (or alternate care provider). This is critical in safely and appropriately re-routing patients away from the ED. For this reason, patients must call the UCL for referral to an UCS in Western Sydney.
Patients can call the Urgent Care Line on: 1800 371 372
Patients can be referred to an Urgent Care Service centre for:
- Minor injuries such as sprains, minor fractures and non-protruding breakages
- Musculoskeletal conditions and injuries
- Minor wounds, skin tears and abrasions
- Minor dental pain
At this stage, Urgent Care Service centres cannot treat patients who:
- Patients over 65 years who require an infusion
- Patients under 16 years who require an infusion
- Patients undergoing chemotherapy
- Patients with cardiac/chest pain, severe abdominal pain and serious breathing difficulties
- Patients with acute mental health diagnosis (due to the additional resourcing requirements needed to support an acute mental health episode)
Read more about the Urgent Care Service and Urgent Care Line.
FAQs for the Community
If you need fast, urgent health care for an injury or condition that’s not life-threatening, you can attend an Urgent Care Service centre for fast, free, urgent health care.
Emergency departments are for people with critical health conditions that are life-threatening.
An Urgent Care Service centre is a general practice or a Patient Centred Medical Home which offers more services than a regular general practice. Specially trained staff look after patients that may need urgent care. The service is completely free for those who have a valid Medicare card and has extended hours.
By visiting an Urgent Care Service centre instead of a hospital emergency department, you can get the right care sooner. This means you can get treated faster and avoid long wait times. Urgent Care Services are also free and may be able to offer additional services such as x-ray and pathology.
No. An Urgent Care Service centre offers a certain kind of service that takes care of more urgent conditions. Not all general practices can do this. Urgent Care Service centres provide additional services for urgent conditions that not all general practices can provide.
- Minor injuries such as sprains, minor breaks in the bone with no broken skin
- Minor conditions such as diarrhoea, vomiting
- Minor wounds, skin tears and cuts
- Minor tooth pain
Urgent Care Service centres are not for:
- Patients over 65 years who require an infusion
- Patients under 16 years who require an infusion
- Patients undergoing chemotherapy
- Patients with cardiac/chest pain, severe abdominal pain and serious breathing difficulties
- Patients with acute mental health diagnosis (due to the additional resourcing requirements needed to support an acute mental health episode)
If this is an emergency, please call 000.
Call the Urgent Care Line on 1800 371 372. Health care staff will ask you questions and either book you into a centre or advise you to attend your emergency department. You don’t need your GP to refer you.
Read more about Value Based Urgent Care Services.