POAC ACUTE CARE SERVICES
Auckland Region
Primary Options for Acute Care (POAC) is a service that supports healthcare professionals by enabling timely access to investigations, treatment, or care for patients who can be safely managed in the community.
Through its care coordination service, POAC connects clinicians with existing community-based infrastructure and resources, helping to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions or reduce the length of stay for patients who do require hospital care.
The primary aim of POAC is to:
Support primary care providers to manage patients safely in the community, within the boundaries of available funding
Strengthen the interface between primary and secondary care to improve continuity and coordination
Develop and implement innovative care pathways that help reduce acute hospital demand
Connect with other community services to support a cohesive, patient-centred approach
Reduce hospital bed days by enabling earlier discharge where clinically appropriate
Promote an integrated model of care that enhances the patient experience and ensures timely, accessible healthcare
Build capacity and capability within primary care to safely deliver acute care in the community, in line with funding parameters