The mahi of management in Bulls: Pressure is the name of the game in rural general practice

READ MORE:

• Practice managers meet after two-year break
• Former airman adds new wing to Bulls Medical Centre
• In sync: GP and practice manager on valuing and supporting each other

Ongoing pay negotiations are a concern. We passionately support pay equality for primary care nurses but no resolution had emerged at the time of writing.

We find recruitment and retention of receptionists and administrators is a problem as well.

Audits to be completed, feedback, complaints, system changes, Foundation Standard, Cornerstone – these are all part of the complex demands of the practice manager’s role.

I rely on my colleagues in the Practice Managers and Administrators Association of New Zealand. This is a fantastic organisation with a website, Facebook page and Messenger. It is amazing how we can all make comments with our roles, and everything can be so different, but as a team we are all on the same page. Keeping our team and patients happy.

I am sure many practices face these challenges. For all those in rural practice who feel overworked and undervalued and who are working extremely hard, we really appreciate all the mahi you put in.

Karen Greer, Bulls Medical Centre practice manager, serves on the executive committee of the Practice Managers and Administrators Association of New Zealand