Practice
  • Home
  • News
  • Pin Points
  • Events
  • Programmes
  • Resources
  • About
REFINE YOUR SEARCH
FILTERS
CLEAR FILTERS
Region
Category
Target age
Programmes » Fever of unknown origin in children (POAC) - Waikato

Fever of unknown origin in children (POAC)

Waikato | Cardiovascular | Ear, nose, throat (ENT) | Gastroenterology | Musculoskeletal | Neurology | Renal | Respiratory | Skin | Under 18

Overview

Treatment of febrile (>38 C) children with intermediate risk symptoms or signs that can be safely managed in the community.  

Please be aware this funding is for care over and above a standard practice consultation.This funding does not include triage and administration of medication under standing orders prior to GP consultation.

This service is part of the Primary Options for Acute Care (POAC) programme. 

Your Pinnacle Services Contract applies to this service. By claiming for this service, you have indicated that you have read and agreed to the business rules set out here.  

This is NOT a clinical guideline. 

Details

Which practices can claim for this service?

All Pinnacle practices in Waikato region can claim for this service. 

Who is eligible for the service?

Febrile (>38 C) children with moderate risk symptoms or signs that can be safely managed in the community – see related resources.

Please be aware this funding is for care over and above a standard practice consultation.

This funding does not include triage and administration of medication under standing orders prior to GP consultation.

Who is excluded from the service?
  • Any child with high risk symptoms or signs. Any pre-hospital treatment that has been provided cannot be funded via POAC, as admission to hospital is inevitable. 
  • Any child with low risk symptoms or signs.   

This funding does not include triage and administration of medication under standing orders prior to GP consultation.

Exclusion criteria to access POAC funding should not preclude emergency treatment of any medical conditions. 

When is the service complete?

Once the episode of care is completed and the patient is no longer acutely unwell, they exit the POAC programme. 

Once the patient exits the POAC programme, the case requires a clinical outcome to be lodged. No payment can be made for any claims unless the outcome is completed.  

Where treatment in the community is no longer clinically appropriate, the patient may be admitted to hospital during a POAC plan of care. Please indicate this in the clinical outcome.  

Claiming guidelines

The initial 15-minute GP/NP consultation incurs the usual consultation fee paid by the patient. All POAC services thereafter are provided at no cost to the patient. If the claim is unable to be funded by POAC, the patient may be liable to the practice for the fees incurred. 

Please make your claim via Primary Options, select Fever Unknown Origin - Children and then attach the appropriate invoice(s).

Prices listed below are GST inclusive.

Practice observations: $1.00 per minute  
Practice observations – maximum 2 hours (based on treatment provided as evidenced in clinical notes). 
In-clinic observations can be claimed based on 3 x 10 minute baseline observations per hour. Practice observations can only be claimed at the time of the initial consult.  

Please be aware this funding is for care over and above a standard practice consultation.

This funding does not include triage and administration of medication under standing orders prior to GP consultation.

What level of clinical notes do I need to submit?

Practices are required to provide sufficiently detailed consultation notes to determine appropriate use of POAC funding otherwise the referral may be declined.   

It has been recommended that in addition to a good assessment and history, the full range of appropriate observations should be documented, especially where the diagnosis is undetermined. It is important to state the time of consultations and interactions with the patient.

Does the patient have to pay?

The initial 15-minute GP/NP consultation incurs the usual consultation fee paid by the patient. All POAC services thereafter are provided at no cost to the patient. 

How is the service funded?

The service is funded by Te Whatu Ora. 

Contact

Primary options team, Pinnacle Midlands Health Network
infoprimaryoptions@pinnacle.health.nz
027 687 7312

RELATED RESOURCES
POAC business rules - Waikato
Published: 20/07/2020

Business rules for the Primary Options Acute Care programme (Waikato), which supports primary care through funding specific clinical services.

View resource
Identifying the risk of serious illness in children with fever
Published: 19/06/2024 | 1 link | Document

This BPAC resource assists to predict risk of serious illness in children with fever

View resource
Te Manawa Taki / Midland Region Community HealthPathways
Published: 14/11/2024 | 1 link | Website

A web-based information portal supporting primary care clinicians to plan patient care through primary, community and secondary health care systems within the Midland Region.

View resource
Primary Options resources
Published: 18/02/2025 | 22 files | Document

Quick guides to assist practices with identifying eligibility criteria;invoices that can be claimed; managing claims and providing assistance with understanding remittance reports

View resource | Download files
YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN
NEWS
Rural accelerated chest pain pathway receives recognition
Pinnacle Incorporated | 05/07/2018

Pinnacle has developed a rural chest pain assessment method that allows low-risk patients in rural communities to be safely assessed and managed by their general practice, rather than travelling significant distances to hospital - often needlessly.

Read more
Rural Cardiovascular
PIN POINTS
Public health advisory update: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu)
Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Clinical | 03/12/2024

Following a detection of cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza/HPAI (also commonly known as avian flu or bird flu) subtype H7N6 in chickens on a poultry farm in Otago, Te Whatu Ora has published a public health advisory with an update on the disease, the health response underway, and guidance for clinicians.

Read more
PROGRAMMES
Abdominal pain (POAC)
Lakes | Gastroenterology | Under 18 | Over 18 | Over 65

Treatment of patients with abdominal pain, who are haemodynamically stable.

View details
RESOURCE
Iron infusion - helpful resources
Published: 09/06/2020 | 4 links | Website

A range of guides to assist when using the iron infusion programme.

View resource
Taranaki
47 Molesworth Street
New Plymouth 4310
+64 6 759 4364
Tairāwhiti
Level 1
295-299 Gladstone Road (entrance via Cobden Street)
Gisborne 4010
PO Box 1188
Gisborne 4040
06 863 2661
Lakes
Level 1
95 Te Heuheu Street
Taupō 3330
PO Box 1716
Taupō 3351
+64 7 376 0060
Waikato
Norris Ward McKinnon House
Level 3
711 Victoria Street
Hamilton 3204
PO Box 983
Hamilton 3240
+64 7 839 2888
Facebook @PinnacleIncorporated LinkedIn midlands-health-network
Copyright © 2025 Pinnacle Incorporated
Privacy policy Terms & conditions Practice update dashboard
Copyright © 2025 Pinnacle Incorporated
Privacy policy Terms & conditions Practice update dashboard