Nurse Led Model
Te Hau Awhiowhio o Otangarei Hauora are a Nurse Lead Clinic with the support of a part time General Practitioner.
We have a strong Nursing team made up of 4 Nurses, 3 Nurse Practitioners and a GP. We are also supported by our Kaiawhina, receptionist, Health Improvement Practitioner and Practice Manager.
With the departure of our General Practitioner, Dr John Martin back in 2015, Te Hau Awhiowhio o Otangarei struggled to attract and employ a GP who was committed to serving in the small urban community of Otangarei.
Serving a high needs, low income registered population with whanau who often have multiple complex health issues – we already knew the odds of attracting a long term GP to our clinic were against us.
As a small not for profit organisation we do not operate on a typical GP ‘business model’ so thus also struggled to keep up with the exorbitant ‘finders fees’ that are attached to employment agencies specialising in the medical industry.
Operating for almost a year without a permanent GP and relying on Locums to ‘fill the urgent needs’ in order to keep our doors open for our whanau – we knew we needed to look into a new and sustainable direction.
During this time – this is where the resilience, determination, and commitment of our Wahine Toa/Nursing Team shone through and directed us on our new journey towards a Nurse Led Model.
What is a nurse led model?
The Nurse Led model grew from a shortage of GP support which led to increased investment and nurturing of Nurse Practitioners (NP’s) instead.
By putting healthcare for our patients first we provide a Whanau Ora holistic approach – integrating a Nursing and GP model combined with Kaiawhina and administrators – resulting in a community focused and holistic approach to well being.
Team members are passionate about reducing inequities, are given the opportunity to make collective decisions about decisions around structure, policies etc.
This innovative design creates a solution of empowerment, “reducing disparities and reducing inequities” and addresses inequities and avoidable hospital admissions; removes the barriers of cost, transport, communication/socio-economic determinants of health.
This model also creates a sustainable future for our Clinic and provides continuity of care that meets the health needs of our whanau in these uncertain times of GP shortages.
What is a Nurse Practitioner and what can they provide?
NP’s are Registered Nurses with advanced education and experience.
They have an important role to play in improving the health of New Zealanders and reducing inequalities in access to healthcare.
NPs are authorised to practise in an expanded nursing role in clinical settings. The NP role includes things that traditionally have been performed by other health professionals, such as prescribing medicines, ordering diagnostic tests, providing WINZ Certificates and much more.
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