WellSouth and Dunedin Needle Exchange GP clinic partner for PMS
WellSouth has been working with the South Island Needle Exchange Programme (DISC) to provide access to a customised PMS – Medtech Evolution – to support the Dunedin clinic’s patient administration, moving them from a paper-based filing cabinet system to an automated, real-time, access-anywhere solution.
The Dunedin branch, DIVO, was unique in the New Zealand Needle Exchange network. It was the first to have a General Practitioner clinic in the service, with Christchurch following suit with a Nurse Practitioner clinic at its Rodger Wright Centre in around 2022. DIVO and its GP clinic has been operating since 1989 and current GP, Jim Ross, is the 4th doctor in 35 years. He runs a free clinic one day a week.
As well as supplying free injecting equipment and Naloxone emergency overdose prevention kits, DISC provides harm reduction support and advice on safe injecting practices, collects returns and ensures the safe disposal of equipment used for injecting drug use, provides Hepatitis C testing and treatment support, and has drug checking clinics available at 3 branches.
DIVO has a strong proactive and promotion programme to support and prevent hepatitis C infection with easy finger-prick testing (now for Hep C antigen as well as antibody) that can be done on the spot. Staff periodically assist with the Needle Exchange South Island mobile Hepatitis C outreach van service.
Having a GP onsite once a week not only provides clients with any medical support, they need but does so in a judgement free environment where they will be met with empathy and compassion. Unfortunately, for many of them this has often not been their experience in the health system.
About the new system
Dr Ross and DIVO Manager, Serena Weatherall, say the greatest advantage has been the time saving, with patient notes readily available. One example is e-prescriptions, says Jim.
“Prior to the PMS, I had to hand write the script, take it to the printer, scan and email it, and then often ask Serena to post it as well. All of this takes time.
“In addition, gaining Special Authority for some medications used to take weeks via the post. Automated now, this happens immediately, which is great for our patients.”
Jim, who started at DIVO in 2021, says the system has brought them into the 21st century.
“Our record system has been on cards that were held together with rubber bands with hospital letters and printed results attached. As you can imagine there are some major limitations to that.
“Our referrals were hard to get into a web-based version of ERMS. You had to type in all the details, which was really clumsy.”
Jim says, “I was talking to Carol [WellSouth Clinical Director, Dr Carol Atmore] about our old system, and she said, ‘Surely we can do something about this’, and they did.”
Jim says they had to be extra careful about confidentiality and safety.
“Many of our patients do not feel well treated in the health system including at General Practice. They don’t have great trust and feel discriminated against. Some are reluctant to be engaged with computers, so I spent a long time checking with patients that they were ok about computerising.”
The PMS is incredibly secure, it requires two passwords and is only accessed by approved staff. It also provides 24/7 access, so that in emergencies, the PMS can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
Serena and Jim both say the PMS has greatly enhanced the service for staff and for patients.
WellSouth’s General Practice Operations Advisor Karen Bolch along with the WellSouth IT team installed the PMS. Karen continues to train, advise and support Serena, Jim and the team.
“WellSouth hosts and is therefore able to customise the Medtech PMS system. It reduces the cost for DISC and as they grow, they have a secure system that will grow with them.”
Having an automated system, reduces their administrative burden, duplication and error, and essentially gives them more time for patient care.”
About the Needle Exchange programme
New Zealand was the first country in the world to introduce a national state sponsored Needle Exchange Programme. Today the programme operates from Whangarei through to Invercargill through a network of dedicated outlets and pharmacy-based exchanges.
Serena, Jim and Karen