First two Pegasus Health practices achieve Foundation Standard
From L-R: Settlers Health staff Sue Gifford (Nurse) Matthew Tennant (House Officer), Ruth Baker (Practice Manager), Jeremy Baker (GP), Krissy Colvin (Administrator/Reception), Laura Baigent (Nurse) with baby Toby. Missing are Sara Kakoi (Admin), Barbara Casey (Reception) and a new staff member Shayra Antolin (Reception).
Two of Pegasus Health’s General Practice members this year became the first in the South Island to achieve the Foundation Standard.
Settlers Health Centre and Cashmere Medical Practice were presented with their certificates from the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) in June 2016.
Kate Wang, General Manager for Quality at RNZCGP, said the practices joined about 22 nationwide that had already achieved the Standard. Another 529 were working towards certification.
The Foundation Standard represents what is considered to be the minimum legal, professional and regulatory requirements for General Practice. It is like a quality warrant of fitness for general practice. Practices need to meet the Standard before 1 July 2017 either by undergoing Foundation Standard assessment (via their primary health organisation) or by attaining current Cornerstone accreditation.
The accomplishments by Settlers Health Centre and Cashmere Medical Practice showed that smaller, neighbourhood teams could achieve the Foundation Standard, Pegasus Health CEO Vince Barry says.
Settlers Health Centre Practice Manager Ruth Baker says the practice had the advantage of having already started working towards Cornerstone accreditation.
Their Ferrymead building was badly damaged in the February 2011 earthquakes and the team had been scheduled for their Cornerstone assessment later that year. It had to be put on hold while they dealt with quake damage and not having water or electricity for 12 weeks.
“We’re a really tight, close-knit team. It’s been great working with everyone to achieve the Foundation Standard,” Ruth says.
Cashmere Medical Practice GP Dr David Rollinson says achieving the Foundation Standard was a “productive process”. “We are proud of ourselves. It was a lot of work, but very rewarding in the end.”
From L-R: At Cashmere Medical Practice - Martin Carrell (Pegasus Health Quality Programme Manager), Vince Barry (Pegasus Health CEO), Elaine Pickett (receptionist), Dr Sandra Fountain (GP), Dr David Rollinson (GP), Jan Dunne (nurse), Cheryl Vette (receptionist) and Kate Wang (RNZCGP General Manager for Quality).
About 56 Canterbury practices are working to achieve the Foundation Standard by 1 July 2017. Pegasus Health began meeting with General Practice teams in July 2014 to identify resources that would help them successfully achieve it. As a result, policy templates, guidelines and checklists were developed by Pegasus Health and made available to General Practices through its extranet website, Pegasus World.