December 12, 2007
2007 WCDHB Community Health Awards
West Coast DHB CE, Kevin Hague praised the high standard of the entries received for the inaugural Community Health Awards at a ceremony held in Greymouth on Monday 10 December.
"Provision of health services, for the people of the West Coast, demands that we think and work clever if we are to make the best use of our resources."
"The nominations received for these awards demonstrate excellent examples of how dedication, excellence and innovation can result outstanding results for our community", Mr Hague said
The standard of the projects submitted was so high that a number will be nominated for entry into the New Zealand Health Innovation Awards in 2008.
Award Winners
The Community Award winning entry for the 2007 award is
Improving the Quality of Life - West Coast Stroke Support Group
The Stroke Support Group seeks to gain the greatest benefits and improve the quality of life for stroke -affected people on the West Coast
The Excellence in Treatment or Rehabilitation Award winning entry for the 2007 award is
Recovery in the Community - PACT Group
PACT's Palms facility is a rehabilitation, recovery focused home that enables people experiencing mental illness to recover in a community setting
The Hauora Māori Award winning entry for the 2007 Award is
Services to Improve Access with a Kaiawhina Maori Navigator in Buller - West Coast PHO
This initiative has had a demonstrable effect with a considerable increase in health services utilisation amongst Māori over the last six months
The Innovation Award winning entry for the 2007 Award is
Tucking In - a HEHA project of the West Coast DHB
This project encourages families to maintain vegetable gardens in their homes by having community gardens in each school and early childhood centre on the West Coast
Highly Commended
Revolutionising Health IT
The WCDHB Experience - IT Department, WCDHB
This programme of initiatives has seen the WCDHB move to the forefront of health information technology in a period of just over two years
The Prevention Award winning entry for the 2007 Award is
Community campaign for Violence Free West Coast - Te Rito Family Violence Network
This is a multifaceted health promotion campaign, running for 12 months, to raise awareness of family violence and strengthen community responses to family violence
The Primary Care Award winning entry for the 2007 Award is
Mental Health Service in a Primary Care Setting - West Coast PHO
This programme targets the 17% of people who do not have a severe mental illness but who could benefit from being able to access increased care
The Process Improvement Award winning entry for the 2007 Award is
Alternative Pathways for New Patients, Colonoscopy & Cataract - Surgical Services, WCDHB
The Alternative Pathways project has significantly reduced the time between referral and procedure in colonoscopy and cataracts through the development of a criteria-based "referral tool"
The Quality Improvement Award winning entry for the 2007 Award is
Credentialling, Clinical Audit and Mortality Review - Vicki Piner, WCDHB
Clinical credentialling matches each clinician's skills, qualifications and experience to the needs of patients, clinicians and the organisation
The Schools Award winning entry for the 2007 Award is
Runanga Rascals Café - Runanga School
The Café has created an interesting menu, allowing the presentation of appetising and low cost meals once a week
The Special Award for outstanding achievement or service by an individual or group winning entry for 2007 is
Diabetes Nurse Educator - Norma Devlin
Norma Devlin has been providing advice and education for those newly diagnosed with diabetes and also ongoing support as required since 1994
Highly Commended
Credentialling facilitator - Vicki Piner, WCDHB
Clinical credentialling matches each clinician's skills, qualifications and experience to the needs of patients, clinicians and the organisation
Supreme Winner.
The winner of the 2007 Supreme Award was
Alternative Pathways for New Patients, Colonoscopy & Cataract - Surgical Services, WCDHB
The Alternative Pathways project has significantly reduced the time between referral and procedure in colonoscopy and cataracts through the development of a criteria-based "referral tool"