Medical centres adopting new patient procedures
Medical centres in Taupo and Turangi are about to get a complete overhaul with the public invited to learn about the changes and how it will help them manage their health.
Taupo Medical Centre, Taupo Health Centre, Lake Surgery and Pihanga Health are enhancing how they provide healthcare for their patients and three public meetings will take place between May and October so patients can learn more about the improvements.
Taupo Health Centre GP David Nixon said medical centres across New Zealand were getting busier and the changes would ensure patients could receive high quality health care now and in the future.
‘‘The average patient is seen twice a year, this increases to about eight times a year for 65 to 70 year olds.
‘‘With an increasing number of older patients this could see demands for services increasing four-fold,’’ Nixon said.
‘‘The way things are set up currently, we are not able to cope with this demand. We need to shift to working smarter and targeting expertise to where it is needed the most.’’
Over the next few months the medical centres are adopting the Health Care Home model of care. The model makes use of the skills of the whole medical centre team and technology to ensure a better, more convenient service for all patients.
The ManageMyHealth Patient Portal will enable patients to access their personal health information from home and will offer new ways in which the patient can contact their GP, make appointments and order prescriptions.
‘‘Patients can use the online portal to securely message their GP, who will set aside time each day to respond to queries as well as follow up more complex queries on the phone.’’
‘‘When a patient contacts us, our team will establish the purpose of the call to see if the query can be managed over the phone by talking directly to the GP or other members of the medical centre team, or if a face- to-face appointment is required with the GP or nurse,’’ Nixon said.
The first meeting is for Taupo Health Centre patients on Wednesday, May 27, at 5.30pm in the Kowhai Room, Ruapehu Wing at Waiora House. Entrance is via Motutaiko St. RSVP to susan.barr@midlandshn.health.nz by Monday.