http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.poac.co.nz en-us Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:48:32 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/150759/cellulitis-management-changes/ From 14 August 2025, the management of cellulitis in the community will change in line with best practice guidelines and national recommendations from the Antimicrobial Stewardship Group.This update is based on clinical evidence showing that once-daily IV antibiotics are not effective for most patients with cellulitis. Instead, high-dose oral antibiotics, with probenecid when indicated, provide equivalent antibiotic concentrations and clinical outcomes.Key Changes to Clinical Care• Once-daily ... Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post150759 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/147989/poac-fees-uplift-1-july-2025/ The Primary Options for Acute Care (POAC) fee schedule has been updated, effective 1 July 2025.The revised claiming guide can be found hereThese changes reflect feedback from key stakeholders and are part of the commitment to improving quality, consistency, and sustainability of acute care delivered in the community.Key points:Fees are now live in the POAC claiming system. Service fees are increasing to better reflect the cost of delivery, and the claiming process is being simplified with f... Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post147989 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/132326/urgent-obstetric-ultrasound-requests--criteria-updated/ There are two significant changes to the acceptance criteria for urgent obstetric ultrasounds in Counties Manukau. Suspected MiscarriagePlease note the updated criteria for suspected miscarriage. The HealthPathway should be consulted for detailed guidelines on the management of pain and bleeding in early pregnancy. Here are some key points to consider:Pain and Bleeding in Early Pregnancy:Between 20-40% of pregnant women experience bleeding during the first trimester.Major causes include mis... Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:11:43 +1200 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post132326 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/130353/cervical-screening-important-changes-to-claiming/  Removal of After-Hours Fee:Starting 1st July, the accessible after-hours fee for cervical screening services will be removed. This change aims to streamline the fee structure and ensure consistency across service hours. Increase in Cervical Screening Service Rates:There will be an increase in the rates for cervical screening services. The exact new rates are currently under review by the national team, and we expect to receive confirmation later this week. We will update the POAC webs... Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:19:43 +1200 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post130353 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/132424/urgent-information-cessation-of-covid-19-funding-from-1-july-2024/ This is to advise that from 1st July 2024 the following changes apply to the national approach to COVID-19 funding.New Zealand has moved beyond the COVID-19 pandemic response and is transitioning to a ‘business as usual’ response. The move to manage COVID-19 as part of business as usual is consistent with Health New Zealand’s |Te Whatu Ora’s (Health NZ) approach to managing other communicable diseases across the health system, with a number of COVID-19 pandemic-specific services already ... Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post132424 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/125535/covid-claiming-cut-off/ COVID-19 Care in the Community Framework (From 1 October 2023)IMPORTANT: Please see below claiming cut off timeframesPlease read the below framework guidance carefully. Claiming continues to be via the POAC claiming mechanism, please use codes relevant to the period of activity being claimed.COVID testing is now also claimed via the POAC claiming mechanism ONLY for the following scenarios:Positive supervised RAT for those who meet antiviral criteria AND are physically unable to self-test.&n... Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post125535 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/124339/covid-care-claiming-deadlines/ Important message regarding claiming cut-off dates for COVID-19:Please note that all COVID-19 claims up to 26TH SEPTEMBER 2022 must be submitted by 5 NOVEMBER 2023. From here the following schedule will be followed (no exceptions will be accepted)As at 31/12/24 claims accepted from 1 December 2022As at 31/01/24 claims accepted from 1 March 2023As at 29/02/24 claims accepted from 1 June 2023As at 31/03/24 claims accepted from 1 August 2023As at 30/04/24 claims accepted from 1 November 2023As... Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post124339 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/111932/testicular-torsion--policy-update/ Policy Updated: October 2023Please Note: This is not intended as a clinical guideline for management of suspected Testicular Torsion in Primary CareBackground:Requests have been received for POAC to fund scrotal ultrasound investigation for the purpose of excluding testicular torsion.  Diagnosis should usually be made based on clinical presentation; diagnosis and treatment should not be delayed. See relevant pathways:Scrotal Lumps in AdultsScrotal Pain and Swelling in ChildrenEpididymo-orch... Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:15:50 +1300 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post111932 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/109095/cthead_winter/ POAC Winter Funding Initiative (till 30th September 2023)A short-term winter funding initiative for CT Head scans to be performed in the community following minor head injury is available until the end of September 2023.Patients with a minor head injury who meet specific referral criteria may be able to have a CT Head in the community, via POAC, as an alternative to sending the patient to ED for assessment. Patients must have been discussed with, and endorsed by, an ED consultant who will also p... Mon, 21 Aug 2023 20:00:34 +1200 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post109095 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/post/103194/poac-updates-and-new-resources-for-iv-cefazolin/ IV cefazolin prescribing and administration resourcesIn response to the ongoing sentinel event cases (hospitalisation with or without subsequent amputation and AKI) with use of community IV cefazolin, the POAC regional clinical governance group endorsed the development of flow charts for both prescribers and administrators.These have been designed to be printed and laminated, and placed in clinicians workstations and on Nursing drug cupboards. They highlight the HealthPathways "red flag" present... Fri, 14 Apr 2023 08:22:41 +1200 http://www.poac.co.nz/blog/#post103194