About | Bridging Healthcare | Nurse Practitioner

What's Bridging Healthcare?

Philosophy

We provide services that exemplify what nurses can do when allowed to work to their full scope of practice. We embrace innovation and person-centred care, whilst promoting healthcare that is safe, collaborative and effective.

A nursing philosophy of care seeks to prevent disease in the first instance. Although we can diagnose and treat many common acute and long-term health conditions, the focus of our care is on prevention and wellbeing.

A nursing philosophy of care promotes patient advocacy and ensures the health consumer is an equal partner in health planning. Healthcare informed by a nursing philosophy not only addresses disease, but seeks to understand how that disease affects and is perceived by the person, their families and significant others, and its broader impact on the community.

History

Bridging Healthcare began as a means of showcasing the value-add of nursing, and its potential to lead truly transformative primary healthcare in Australia.

We began our journey in 2019 by working in partnership with Capital Chemist Wanniassa. We provided most every service you could get in a modern general practice, including face-to-face clinical services. However, after two and a half years of service, the COVID-19 pandemic required us to modify our model of care.

In 2022, we modified our model of care to build capacity and capability in delivering innovative Telehealth services, in an effort to extend our reach into other communities and explore new opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a nurse practitioner?

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse endorsed by the national nursing regulatory authority (the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia) to function autonomously and independently in an advanced capacity.

NPs are able to independently:

Perform advanced and comprehensive physical examinations;
Diagnose;
Prescribe medicines;
Request diagnostic tests, such as X-Rays and blood tests;
Refer to medical specialists and allied health professionals.

For more information about NPs, click HERE.

What kind of services do you provide?

We provide care for minor illnesses, as well as assess and treat many common long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Our NP also has expertise in the management of heart and lung conditions.

We provide expert preventative healthcare, including:

Contraception advice
HIV Prevention and Care
Hepatitis C Care
Weight Loss Counselling
Smoking Cessation

We provide sick certificates for verifiable illnesses.

Do you bulk bill?

Bridging Healthcare is a private-billing service. We understand financial hardship, and wished we could bulk-bill everything. Unfortunately, the Medicare system is designed to reimburse medical practitioner services - not primary healthcare services using nurse practitioners.

What can't you do as a nurse practitioner?

We're actually able to do quite a bit using Telehealth. However, there are some constraints. A Telehealth consult will not be exactly the same, and may not be as complete, as a face-to-face service.

We do not routinely provide prescriptions for benzodiazepines (such as Ativan or Valium) or opioids (such as Endone or Panadeine Forte) without a written management plan that has been developed and agreed upon with your general practitioner.

There are certain diagnostic tests, such as CT-scans and MRIs, that if ordered by your GP would normally attract a Medicare subsidy to reduce your out of pocket costs. However, such diagnostic tests will not attract a subsidy if requested by a nurse practitioner.

In the ACT there are some government forms, such as workers compensation, Centrelink and driver's licence medicals that we cannot sign.

In the event we are unable to meet your healthcare needs, we will work with you to ensure you get the care you require, whilst minimising your out of pocket costs.

I'm having an issue with the MediRecords App. Can you help?

Bridging Healthcare does not provide IT-related support but will do its best to help with basic issues relating to the MediRecords app. Just come in to the pharmacy and one of our staff can try and assist.

The app developer provides comprehensive support for patient inquiries relating to the app.

Please call the MediRecords team at 1300 103 903, visit their WEBSITE or email them at support@medirecords.com

I have feedback about the care I've received. Who do I talk to?

We recommend you contact Bridging Healthcare as a first point of call.

You can reach us through our direct line: 0407 472 472.
You can also provide feedback using our CONTACT FORM.

If you do not feel comfortable raising your concern with Bridging Healthcare, please feel free to contact the following:

Health Care Consumer' Association (for advice)
ACT Health Services Commissioner (to lodge complaints)

What's needed for new patients?

Thinking about signing on with Bridging Healthcare?

If you want to save time at your first appointment, please fill out the relevant patient registration form below:

Adult Patient Registration Form
Child/Adolescent Registration Form (14 or Younger)

You can send that form to us using the details you get in your confirmation email for your first appointment.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your registration please let us know!

You can save time by registering your information with the practice through our secure patient app. Check out the MediRecords App for more information.

Our Nurse Practitioner

Bridging Healthcare Pty Ltd is operated by Adj. Associate Professor Chris Helms, PhD RN MSN(NP) ANP-BC FACNP. Chris is a Registered Nurse and Endorsed Nurse Practitioner (NP) working in private practice. He received his formal training as an Adult and Geriatric (Aged Care) NP from the University of Wisconsin, based in the United States. He has worked in diverse clinical settings, ranging from rural and remote primary healthcare to subspecialty cardiothoracic surgery practice in metropolitan tertiary referral centres. He immigrated to Australia in 2007 and has since served on several national boards and committees vested in the advancement of the Australian nursing profession, as well as the nurse practitioner role. His interests include advanced practice nursing, healthcare regulation of nurses and midwives, primary healthcare, cardiovascular disease, and clinical governance frameworks that enhance the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of health systems. He works as a consultant and is an early career researcher that has several peer-reviewed and grey literature publications relating to clinical learning and teaching frameworks for advanced practice nurses and Australian NPs. He holds extensive experience providing engaging and thought-provoking presentations to local and international audiences.

Nurse Practitioners
Primary Health Care
Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular Surgery
Lifestyle Modification
Private Practice Models for Nursing
Learning and Teaching