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Runanga  PHO Check-up: Spot on

Te Atiawa health operation gains accreditation

Hutt News 15/3/2005

More than three years of effort to get systems, policies and procedures humming has paid off for Te Atiawa’s  health operation.

Te Runanganui o Taranaki Whanui ki te Upoko o te Ika a Maui Inc has just won accreditation status from Quality health New Zealand.

Accreditation  surveyors examine the consumer focus and cultural appropriateness of services; the multi-disciplinary management and clinical systems; the safety of services, personnel and facilities; the teamwork, leadership and governance  in the organisation; and the commitment to continuos quality improvement. To be QHNZ accredited, a health service must measure up against the standards and demonstrate its commitment to quality.

Marae Clinic

While this accreditation applies to Te Runanga’s Petone and Waiwhetu PHO, with its 4,800 patients, Te Awakairangi Regional Broad intends upping the game so that the clinics run at the marae around the Hutt Valley also reach accreditation status. Runanga CEO Kara Puketapu says the whole process of audits and inspections has been a worthwhile exercise in streaming and improvement. “And it gives the patient some guarantees in regards to their protection and so on.” As well as disease management nurses, community  workers and Well Child specialists, there are now six full-time doctors working for Te Runanga. The Latest arrival is the highly-respected acute GP Dr Keck Chew, Who most recently was the A&E doctor working at Kenepuru’s after hours service. His arrival in mid-March is expected to enable the PHO to offer acute appointments to any registered patient who walks in and finds their usual GP is Booked.