Primary Sense

Primary Sense’s four components work together to provide real time reports, medical alerts or prompts. These include:   

1. A data extractor tool    

2. A desktop app   

3. A database   

4. The Johns Hopkins University ACG® System – the world’s leading population health analytics software  

How Primary Sense works   

Data extractor  

• The tool extracts de-identified general practice data from a practice every three to five minutes.   

  Database  

• This data is securely transferred to a central database where analytics – like The Johns Hopkins University ACG® System – run over the data regularly.  
• The data is stored in a highly secure data store that is only accessible to that practice’s PHN, where PHN staff can run further analysis to support quality improvement initiatives and inform population health research or plan and commission services, like mental health care, to improve community health across the country.   
• All data extracted from Primary Sense is privacy protected and securely stored and managed in Australia.  

  Desktop app   

• The processed data is presented back to GPs, practice managers and practice nurses as reports, medical alerts or prompts, either on demand or triggered during a patient visit.   

For learning manuals, important documents and ‘how to’ videos, click here. 

What is Primary Sense, the benefits and how to make the switch.

How to use Primary Sense from a quality improvement perspective

Primary Sense Deep Dive

Primary Sense and PIP QI requirements

Winter Wellness and Primary Sense

Winter Wellness — Pneumococcal Vaccination guide for Primary Sense

Health Assessments guide using Primary Sense

Exporting data to Excel from Primary Sense

Configuring desktop settings in Primary Sense

There are many benefits to utilising Primary Sense in general practice:

• Tired and tested – developed by GP’s for GP’s
• The right care at the right time – real time medication alerts & prompts to support clinical decisions
• On demand reports to proactively plan care that can be used by practice managers, GPs and nurses
• Access to the Johns Hopkins University ACG® System – the world’s leading population health analytics software – that identifies high risk groups and predicts future health needs to improve patient’s care plan
• Secure and reliable – Data is de-identified, privacy protected and securely stored and managed in Australia.

Best Practice installation instructions 

Medical Director installation instructions

Before installing Primary Sense, please take note of the following information:

• The Extractor is installed once on the server only. 
• The Desktop application can be installed on all workstations that have Best Practice/Medical Director running and are utilised by practice staff. 
• The Desktop installation only needs to occur once per workstation (or once onto terminal server).
• The Desktop application will not be functional until first extract of the practice data is completed. 
• Primary Sense Desktop Software is supported on Windows 11, 10 and 8.2 operating systems
• Primary Sense Extractor Software is supported on the following Microsoft Windows operating systems: Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 R2 and 2012
• Server RAM and diskspace minimum requirements are 8GB RAM and 200MB diskspace
• For Medical Director users – creation of a read only user account to access database (instructions provided at install) is required
• Google Chrome, Edge or Firefox will need to be set as default browser on all computers