New Zealand Health Care Home is here to stay

At the recent Health Care Home (HCH) Collaborative Symposium HCH practices from across New Zealand shared their stories on how their whānau are experiencing significantly improved health outcomes. Practices presented learnings based on their own Health Care Home journey.

Hauora Heretaunga, Hastings shared how the HCH model of care (MoC) is a stepping stone to implement the Nuka model, an indigenous model that has worked well in Alaskan communities. This includes relationship centred care and works on the same whānua centric approach as the New Zealand HCH.

Porirua Union Community Health Service are also aiming to build on the HCH MoC to implement elements of the Nuka model – Melissa Brazier, Capital and Coast District Health Board HCH Project Manager supporting PUCHS on their journey says “it’s important to connect with communities, build relationships as well as to create a strong sense of team, ensuring everyone is on board and ready to implement change.”

Tāupo Medical Centre have experienced success in relation to the role of the extended care team (ETC) that has been established across the Southern lakes region by Pinnacle. With a peer support worker as part of the ETC offering lived experience to support whānau in a culturally competent way, focusing on better health care for Māori. To watch the full suite of HCH Collaborative Symposium presentations check out the link - https://webcast.hinz.nz/Mediasite/Channel/hchcollaborativesymposium2019

Dr Andrew Miller, a clinical lead for the HCH Collaborative said that while “some clinicians still see Primary Care as something of a train wreck, we already know that HCH offers changes that are benefiting the health of whānau / communities as well as those who provide patient care. GPs have reported that they have much more control over their day as well as putting the joy back into their work – being able to see the patients that most need care is bringing about more satifaction. When asked what’s important on the HCH journey, Dr Hayley Scott of Health Te Aroha anwered “te tangata, te tangata, te tangata – it is people, it is people, it is people.”

With close to 200 delegates in attendance, the HCH Collaborative Symposium was an opportunity to hear first hand the initiatives of how the HCH MoC is being implemented by practices right around New Zealand. Local variations are evolving as this model is not a one size fits all and it takes into account individual community needs. However, there are consisent core features that ensure high quality care. Chair of the HCH Collaborative, Mark Liddle says, “of particular focus for the HCH Collaborative currently is to strengthen equity, consumer co-design and Māori engagement. This was identified as a priority in the last HCH MoC review in 2018 and it is anticipated that by June 2020 there will be an enhanced HCH MoC Requirements document that works to support equitable health outcomes for all.” The HCH Collaborative and its networks are also engaging with consumers to gather feedback relating to the HCH MoC including Māori led focus groups to develop a more culturally appropriate approach within the HCH MoC.

The HCH Collaborative continues to support Primary Care Organisation (PHO) members in the roll out of the HCH MoC. Providing a platform of sharing and learning and as a result taking the best intiatives forward and fast failing those that do not work for the benefit of our whānau, familes and communities – it is a model of continuous quality improvement. The Collaborative is seeking to update their funding base so that it can open its support to all PHOs. Chair of the HCH Collaborative, Mark Liddle says “we’re working to create a more open source model that will mean an equitable approach for all PHOs – there are great learnings to share and there is a willingness to work together’.

The HCH MoC is currently available to over one million of New Zealand’s enrolled population. The current HCH Collaborative member base of seventeen PHOs support over 75% of New Zealand’s total enrolled population of 4.589 million.