Health Targets quarter three 2014/2015 - Integration drives Canterbury Health System’s performance

Integration efforts across the Canterbury Health System remain pivotal to Canterbury District Health Board’s performance in meeting health targets.

The National Health Targets performance summary quarter three results for 2014/2015 show Canterbury has exceeded the Shorter Stays in ED target achieving 96 percent despite increasing demand and capacity restraints within the hospital.

David Meates, Canterbury DHB chief executive, says the “remarkable” result represents the ongoing integration of services across the health system, particularly for older people to help them stay well in their own homes for longer.

“Although attendance has grown continuously since the February 2011 earthquakes, we are seeing little growth among the older population, which is a reflection of the strategies to care for older people in their own homes and communities being well embedded,” Mr Meates says.

He says the biggest growth in attendances remain the younger adult population where there’s been a 46 percent increase in non-enrolled patients aged 25-29 presenting to ED.

“We have increased focus on capturing home addresses appropriately and ensuring this group are provided with the right information on where to access primary care rather than defaulting to ED.”

Primary care efforts particularly from the 24 Hour Surgery on Bealey Ave, Moorhouse Medical and Riccarton Clinic play a key role in the Canterbury Health System successfully managing acute demand.

Other impressive results this quarter have been in our Improved Access to Elective Surgery delivering 100 percent of our target delivery (12,851 elective surgeries out of our 17,484 annual target).

“This is really outstanding given the theatre capacity constraints. It is a sign our priorities to improve patient flow, as well as ensuring we are tracking, monitoring and responding to any changes quickly, are working.

Performance exceeded the ‘Better Help for Hospitalised Smokers to Quit’ target where the Canterbury DHB achieved 97 percent of the 95 percent target.

“There’s been a big emphasis on staff education, documentation and referrals. Hospital staff are also being supported to take on roles to support smoking cessation previously held by the Smokefree control team.”

Quarter three has been a first for Canterbury in achieving the Increased Immunisation target of immunising 95 percent of eligible children.

“Low opt-off decline rates have contributed to this quarter’s performance as well as targeted efforts by primary care.”

Canterbury DHB continues efforts towards the meeting the Primary Care Health Targets of Better Help for Smokers (83 percent) and More Heart and Diabetes Checks (78 percent).

“We are committed to working closely with our Primary Health Organisations to actively support the delivery of primary care Health Targets. Initiatives include ongoing education, enhanced clinical engagement, and supporting high risk populations.”

Target overview

*Canterbury received an achieved based on improvement against the quarter two results.

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