Clinical Editor Dr Stephen George has been part of the HealthPathways team since 2017 and also works as a Hospitalist in tertiary emergency care in Western Sydney.
For Dr George, HealthPathways plays an important role in strengthening patient care across the region by bringing together evidence-based clinical guidance, local referral information and trusted patient resources to support health professionals in making timely, informed decisions and helping patients access the most appropriate care in the right setting.
HealthPathways: What users should know
Our HealthPathways team is constantly reviewing and updating pathways with input from subject matter experts and health professionals. Users can be confident that they are accessing up-to-date information that also has the backing of the Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD).
It is evidence-based, optimised for use during a consultation, and for managing patients with a particular symptom or condition. Adult and Paediatric pathways are clearly demarcated, and factsheets for patient /parents are taken from trusted sources.
Is HealthPathways only for GPs?
HealthPathways benefits all our health professionals. It is useful for dental and nurse practitioners, pharmacists, community and mental health professionals, and all allied health professionals, all of whom have also contributed to developing HealthPathways for Western Sydney.
The role of HealthPathways today
I have encountered patients waiting in tertiary emergency care who could have been managed at their local hospital or by a specialist in an outpatient, non-urgent setting. This may have happened because the referring practitioner was new to Western Sydney or lacked the resources to make the right type of referral.
HealthPathways helps practitioners discern the referral options better, thereby helping their patients avoid the busy emergency departments. HealthPathways can assist the referring practitioner in helping their patient get the right care sooner.
New features for registered users
A new attractive feature is that users who are registered and have a personalised HealthPathways login are able to generate CPD reports for their respective professional registration requirements with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
The new online referral platforms that are being introduced in health districts are also embedded in the pathways.
Join Western Sydney!
Pathways are designed to give guidance on whether referrals should be made to the nearest health facility, a tertiary care level hospital or a private service provider. Surgical facilities and specialist services are not available at the same level in every hospital within the health district, and for a newcomer, it is very valuable information as they establish themselves in primary care.
Referral services to dental, community and allied health are included.
Learn more about HealthPathways and register for your own personalised login
Western Sydney HealthPathways is a partnership initiative between WentWest, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network, Western Sydney Local Health District and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. General practitioners, hospital specialists and allied health providers are actively involved in its creation and continuous review, ensuring its safety, relevance and effectiveness.