About POLAR

POLAR stands for Population Level Analysis & Reporting (POLAR) system. POLAR is a business intelligence tool that uses extracted data from your clinical and billing software program and can be used by practice staff and GPs. Practices can use POLAR for quality improvement, support business development and help provide better patient centered care.

More information about POLAR can befound here.

Costs

There is no cost to practices within the EMPHN catchment. An agreement to provide de-identified practice data to the PHN is required for the use of the tool. EMPHN is then able to identify system gaps and work towards developing better services for the community. POLAR is now web based and the installation is very quick and can be managed via Teamviewer into the practice at a time that suits.

Benefits

Assists practices to meet their PIP QI requirements
Identifying patients that are eligible for Health Assessments, Care Plans, Team Care Arrangements and Reviews and Mental Health Treatment Plans
Assists with recalling patients for immunisations, screening tests and other preventative health items
Assists practices with business planning
Increase data quality and recording to assist with accreditation
Improve patient outcomes

POLAR demonstration video

Software compatibility

POLAR is Compatible with the following Software:

Medical Director
Best Practice
Zedmed
Medtech	In development
Genie	In development
Helix	In development

Practices that have mismatched billing and clinical software may not get full functionality

Request POLAR

Want POLAR installed in your general practice? What's next?

Complete the below documents and email to digitalhealth@emphn.org.au

Privacy and security

Walrus

Walrus is a point of care tool for GPs. Walrus prompts you about specific items, missing data, clinical prompts, risk scores, PIP-QI or MBS items for the patient you have open in your Clinical Information System. This is a short demonstration video. If you would like to have access to Walrus please email digitalhealth@emphn.org.au.

Training and Courses

POLAR Training Courses via EMPHN Learning Management System (LMS)

POLAR Training Courses are now available on the EMPHN Learning Management System for GPs and Practice Staff including:

Introduction to POLAR (Course Duration 60 minutes Certification available upon completion)
Using POLAR reports to identify patients at risk of Cardiovascular Disease or Hospitalisation at risk patients (Course duration 60 minutes RACGP CPD Points available)
This online course has been developed to provide Clinicians with the skills, tools and knowledge to be pro-active in health promotion activities for patients who are either at risk of developing chronic diseases or improve patient outcomes for patients who have chronic complex health conditions through the use of POLAR.

To request access to EMPHN Learning Management System (LMS), email digitalhealth@emphn.org.au. View our guide on how to utilise the LMS.

POLAR Training videos via YouTube

What is POLAR - Watch here
How to access POLAR - Watch here
Managing users in POLAR - Watch here
Applying filters in POLAR - Watch here
- Applying filters within Excel to sort data - Watch here
- Export, Format and Print POLAR Patient Lists within Excel - Watch here
POLAR Education Portal and Data Mapping - Watch here
Data Quality - Watch here
POLAR Hospitalisation Risk Report - Watch here
Introduction to POLAR reports - Watch here
POLAR Cardiovascular Disease Reports - Watch here
MBS care plans - Watch here
Diabetes Quality Improvement Activities - Watch here
POLAR Videos using the POLAR Practice Incentive Quality Improvement (PIP QI) Report - Watch here
Clinical Indicators Video - Watch here
POLAR Identifying Patients Who Are Eligible And Would Benefit From A Health Assessment - Watch here
How To Opt Patients Out Of POLAR - Watch here
Increasing cervical screening rates in your practice (QIM 9) - Watch here
Heart Health Checks Webinar - Watch here
Interpreting your EMPHN POLAR Practice Report - Watch here
Quality Improvement Activity: Diabetes Management (Quality Improvement Measure 1) - Watch here

NEW

Hospitalisation Risk POLAR Report is now available. Watch this webinar to find out how to use this report or contact your Digital Health Team at digitalhealth@emphn.org.au for an overview.

POLAR Q&A Webinars are held by Outcome Health monthly. Registration is available via the front page of POLAR when you first login. There is also a link to the previous months webinar available if you have missed viewing.

Practices also have resources available through the POLAR program under Help:

POLAR Walkthroughs

PDSAs

Patient Flagging

Practice Patient Flagging user documentation

Increasing your practice income Business Modelling resources

Accounts and passwords

POLAR enables you to allow or restrict access to specific reports. For example, as an administrator you may prefer all staff to have access to the Summary report but restrict access to the Summary Business report to yourself and the business owner.

You nominate a POLAR administrator when you sign up.

The processes for setting up accounts, managing access, and resetting passwords are covered in the resources below. We recommend you start by viewing the set up guide video.

Password Management

Contact us if you need help with these processes or alternatively you may search for the solution on the POLAR Confluence found  here (use your POLAR login).

See our flyer for more information.

To request your practice report please contact: digitalhealth@emphn.org.au

Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement (PIP QI)

The PIP QI Incentive started on 1 August 2019.

If you do not currently have a preferred data extraction tool required to meet the data sharing PIP QI component, EMPHN can provide you with our existing data extraction tool (POLAR).

Visit our webpage for more information.