New Zealand Update
New educational workshop launches
MPS has launched the second in its series of risk management workshops, called Mastering Adverse Outcomes. This workshop takes a comprehensive approach to the difficult area of discussing adverse outcomes with patients.
There is a natural inclination to want to avoid such discussions – whether there is negligence or even natural causes involved – for fear of strong emotions from the patient, causing the patient distress, or even loss of professional reputation.
Doctors may also be fearful that any discussion on the adverse outcome may be used against them in future proceedings.
This workshop highlights the importance of recognising patient expectations when an adverse outcome occurs and how failing to address them increases the risk of the patient turning to legal or disciplinary processes for answers and accountability.
The workshop provides a thorough grounding on the issues, the legal obligations and implications of these discussions.
Participants also learn that their own personal barriers to confronting patients can contribute to a climate of predisposing factors that increase the likelihood of a complaint or claim.
Participants learn an effective model for communicating with patients after an adverse outcome. The model used addresses the patient’s needs without compromising the doctor’s legal position. Members in New Zealand will have an opportunity to attend this workshop from mid-2010. All will be contacted via direct mail with details of dates, times and venues, as well as instructions on how to register.
If you have any enquiries about these workshops, please email us.
RNZCGP welcomes evidence-based care guidelines
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) supports moves by ACC to follow evidence-based care guidelines for sensitive claims clients, which will ensure patients receive best practice care. The ACC’s new treatment framework follows the Massey guidelines, published in 2008, outlining an evidence-based approach for the assessment and treatment of mental injury as a result of sexual assault or abuse.
RNZCGP president, Dr Harry Pert, said: “Recent pilot programmes have shown that very good results come from doctors working together with counsellors, psychologists and others.”
He added: “By working with psychologists early on, GPs, counsellors and others will be able to provide the best and most focused care possible.”
Nine shortlisted for next steps in primary care
The government’s Better, Sooner, More Convenient primary healthcare strategy has shortlisted nine primary healthcare providers to help implement it.
The Ministry of Health called for expressions of interest from primary healthcare providers able to implement large-scale changes to the way they deliver healthcare. Out of 70 applications, nine were selected to develop detailed plans outlining their proposed changes. These include the Canterbury Clinical Network, Greater Auckland Integrated Health Network, West Coast PHO and the Midland Network.
Some of the proposals moving to the next stage include the development of Integrated Family Health Centres (IFHCs), more nurse-led services, more multi-disciplinary teams and greater co-operation with hospitals. The proposals also include fewer primary health organisations (PHOs), meaning that more resources could move to the frontline.
Successful proposers have until February 2010 to develop business cases, and the successful cases will then move to implementation.
Pandemic influenza immunity study launched
An investigation into the level of immunity New Zealanders have to pandemic influenza (H1N1) has been launched by Environmental Science and Research (ESR), for the Ministry of Health.
Blood samples taken from 2,500 people, selected randomly from participating general practices throughout the country, will indicate who has been exposed to pandemic influenza – and who has developed immunity to it. This will help establish how many people are still at risk of contracting the illness.
Leading the study is director of public health, Dr Mark Jacobs, who explained: “We know that many people had a mild to moderate illness as a result of pandemic influenza this winter, but we need to get a clearer picture of the general level of immunity and how many people are still at risk.”
The smaller the proportion of New Zealanders infected so far, the higher the chance of a significant second wave happening in the future. The nationwide study began in November 2009 and will run until March 2010. The final report is expected in May.