Listen first, then build: Team Medical’s new home to meet many needs

WINNER

AHUREI (MAGNIFICENT) TEAM MEDICAL URGENT CARE & GP SERVICES TRANSFORMATION
Green Cross Health and Team Medical

The refurbishment of Team Medical was a monumental five-year project that transformed the practice.

Based in Coastlands Mall in Paraparaumu, Team Medical serves a population of 8000 and is the only urgent care clinic for 30km for many who live in that region.

Over time, the space became difficult for patients to navigate, iwi reported they didnot feel welcome, and staff were finding it difficult to work there.

The refurbishment has expanded the space to include additional GP and urgent care consult rooms, a minor surgery theatre, three admin spaces, additional seating and extra bathrooms, all linked by a new reception area.

Practice owner Christine Coulter says, “Trying to improve equity is very important to me. It’s about listening to people about what they need. It’s about the whole body, mind and soul for everyone at their own level.”

The refurbished building, in partnership with Green Cross Health Medical Division, now provides space for Dr Coulter to continue her vision.

The project, she says, is the culmination of being inspired by her community-minded father to become a doctor and working as a GP for 20 years.

“It is the result of real collaboration among staff, community and iwi,” she says.

Green Cross store development manager pharmacy and medical Niam Kerr-Bell was the project manager and says the redevelopment began in October 2019. After a five-year negotiation process with the landlord, the building reopened in July 2020.

The project included securing extra space by moving the existing reception area into the lobby and taking over some of the pharmacy space.

“We built new where we could, to expand, and also renovated where we needed to, this included all new cladding and a new roof,” Mr Kerr-Bell says.

“The project was substantial and meant sections of the building were closed off for renovation, but the practice remained operational and continued to service the community while the changes were happening.

“At the opening, it was wonderful to see the support from the community and hear how they loved the practice and how they will use it more,” he says.

Dr Coulter puts the development’s success down to the team. “I could not do any of this without smart people who make it happen. Everybody’s ideas are in this.”

Judges' comments:

Your collaboration of staff, patient and iwi is likened to the following whakatauki: “Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini – success is not the work of one it is the work of many”

FINALIST

RAGLAN MEDICAL

RAGLAN MEDICAL’S 10-YEAR JOURNEY to create its new and future-proofed, 478sqm clinic has resulted in a building that meets the needs of staff and patients for years to come.

Based in Raglan township, Raglan Medical cares for a population of 5754 patients.

The previous building was an old bungalow with corridors so narrow staff had to line up to pass each other. There was also no privacy for patients.

These were the two biggest priorities for business manager Michelle Meenagh. With the lease expiring, it was the right time to look for a new building.

“We plan to be here for 40 years and the building is ready to expand with us; there is wiring, and space for a staircase and lift well [and] the foundations are deeper, allowing for a second floor. So, if we expand, we will be going up,” Mrs Meenagh says.

The building has 1.5m wide corridors, additional phone lines and soundproofing built in to ensure patient privacy.

For patients it means access has been simplified, and access to more health services has expanded.

Judges' comments:

Titiro whakamuri, koriri whakamua – look back and reflect so you can move forward. You [took] perceived weaknesses from the old centre and [turned] them into strengths in the new. Tau ke!

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