RCPHO Office – Staff Members
As a Primary Health Organisation, Rural Canterbury PHO is responsible for providing essential primary health care services to our enrolled population.
Today, the region we work in continues to be incredibly diverse, stretching all the way north to Cheviot, down to Ashburton, west to Hanmer Springs, and east to Akaroa. This includes an eclectic mix of small country towns, provincial centres and remote areas.
We support 18 general practices throughout these unique areas of Canterbury. Despite their differences, our practices all have one thing in common: they provide integral health care services to the people of rural Canterbury. That means that they are heavily influenced and impacted by the challenges that working in rural health brings.
We know firsthand the incredible resolve of those rural communities. Every year we see our practices building innovative and exciting ways to provide access to the very best health care for people, despite the challenges they face as a result of their rurality. Consequently, our rural communities are incredibly well served.
We are proud to support our practices to achieve this by offering dedicated and targeted support, advocacy and services. It is our commitment to ensure the rural voice is heard and to work in smart ways to get economies of scale for our members. We make it our purpose to understand the unique challenges and opportunities that our practices are facing and deliver customised and appropriate support, whilst continuously advocating for rural equality at local and national levels.
That’s why we pride ourselves on being a medium sized PHO. It means we can bring the clout of a powerful agent with the balance of a personalised and approachable touch.
To achieve the best possible health status for the population of our area, within accepted policy settings and working within available resources.
To lessen health inequalities within our area by targeting those with special needs eg Maori and Pacific Island people, and those with disabilities and chronic illness.
To establish and maintain excellent relationships with the communities we serve, acknowledging their rurality and ethnic characteristics.
To establish and maintain excellent relationships with those organisations and individuals contracted to deliver services, and with the Canterbury District Health Board, our funder.
To work with other key providers of primary care within our area to achieve the best level of integrated service provision possible, by way of an appropriately skilled and supported workforce.
To ensure that the services we contract for are of a high quality, and are an effective and efficient use of resources.
To be recognised by the Ministry of Health as a “high performing Primary Health Organisation”, according to valid criteria.
People have ready access to skilled, competent and caring health professionals who they know and trust
Improving accessibility, affordability and appropriateness of services based on the local needs of the population
The population should be encouraged to pursue a healthy lifestyle within a healthy environment
Achieving excellence by
improving coordination and continuity of care in all
areas
Providing and funding services according to the population needs, in addition to a fee for service, when people are unwell
An emphasis on population health, health promotion and preventative care will improve health
outcomes