We are supporting primary care providers and medical specialists to become early adopters of Provider Connect Australia (PCA).

About Provider Connect Australia

PCA is an online tool operated by the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA). It provides comprehensive and automatic updates across service networks every time a health care provider notifies it of changed services, personnel or operating parameters.

By providing consistent, up to date information about health care services to funders, hospitals, health service directories, communications services and other key partners in health care delivery, PCA will ensure that providers and consumers have access to the information they need when they need it. This will lead to a more efficient, connected, and accessible health care system.

Benefits for health services

When a health service updates operational or staffing details in the PCA service, it automatically sends the new information to nominated hospitals, pathology and radiology services, public service directories, secure messaging providers, Medicare, primary health networks and more.

Previously, this process might require health services to complete between 10 and 20 different paper or online forms to make sure each part of its ecosystem was alerted. This process would also have to be repeated each time information changed.

PCA thus removes a substantial red-tape burden, and reduces inaccurate and out-of-date information across the sector, improving efficiency and quality of care.

In short, PCA provides these benefits:

• Lower cost of processing client registrations
• Lower cost of processing client updates
• Improved client satisfaction
• Streamlined client registration and updates
• Improved timeliness, completeness and accuracy of client data

For more information visit the ADHA website, refer to the product summary (.pdf) and watch the video below.

How to register

Health services can visit the ADHA website to register for PCA.

Although the registration process will take some time to complete, you’ll only need to do this once. The time you invest will ensure your business information is kept secure, complete and as accurate as possible.

North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network can book an appointment to guide you through the registration process and answer any questions. To get the most out of your appointment, visit the ADHA website to read the pre-registration checklist and ensure you have the necessary information and signed documents ready to go.

To book an appointment:

• Primary care providers (including pharmacy and allied health) please contact your practice’s quality improvement program officer or email primarycare@nwmphn.org.au
• Medical specialists please contact digitalhealth@nwmphn.org.au