Abstract
Cook Street Health Centre (CSHC) Enrolment Project, is a contribution to an overarching community collective impact initiative called Ora Konnect, to address the well documented but enduring health inequalities in a geographical area of very high unmet health need.
The geographical area of the ‘4412’ postcode refers to the south western suburbs of Palmerston North City, Aotearoa New Zealand. The '4412' is home to a multicultural population, which notably has a large population of Indigenous Māori. It is a community where people from diverse cultural, ethnic and social backgrounds come together; diversity can be celebrated and thrive; skills, knowledge and values can come together, and new and innovative ideas and ways of being can flourish.
Access to general practice services is integral to meeting the primary health care needs of whānau and ensuring they can be assessed, have appropriate management, or self-manage their health needs. This initiative supports and enables access through CSHC for those who are not currently accessing primary healthcare.
The enrolment initiative will build on existing community connections and relationships through Ora Konnect, to find and invite the non-enrolled in ‘4412’ to enrol at CSHC. Ora Konnect is an alliance of 19 partners including iwi (Indigenous Tribe), community, government and territorial organisations who hold the mandate to make decisions on those organisations behalf. Ora Konnect has a shared vision which translates the voices of the community “4412 – connecting communities for wellbeing” and is guided by the principles of collective impact and whānau ora, underpinned by a whānau led approach. Ora Konnect has a focus on 3 key areas (squads) of Housing, Kai and Hauora Our enrolment initiative is supported by the Hauora squad.
Ora Konnect has worked together to mobilise cross-sectoral relationships, deconstruct traditional ideologies of change, and foster strong environments of trust. An estimated 4488 people are unenrolled and not accessing primary health services. CSHC had capacity to increase their enrolled population and were looking at new ways to improve equitable access and improve health and wellbeing. THINK Hauora, our primary health organisation provided funding.
Te Tihi o Ruahine Whānau Ora Alliance provides guidance and support using their Logic Model, and Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, distinguishing two components:
i)Outcomes whānau achieve through their engagement with the initiative
ii)Process outcomes for CSHC and the broader Ora
Konnect Alliance working in a coordinated, efficient and effective way
CSHC welcome/enrolment packs have been given to community organisations, iwi and Māori providers, HOW² Te Ako Charitable Trust which supports former refugees and ethnic communities in Palmerston North. CSHC clinicians have provided free health checks at community events which is an opportunity to enrol people. Public Health and outreach immunisation services contact CSHC when they have those unenrolled using their services and we make direct contact.
All newly enrolled patients are actively followed up with whānau voice fundamental to the success of this initiative. Whānau need to feel heard and understood when engaging with general practice.
This session will discuss the integrated project methodology and early positive results.