Hauraki PHO text initiative to help achieve health targets

Media Release

Hauraki PHO text initiative to help achieve health targets

Auckland, 31 May 2013 – Hauraki Primary Health Organisation (PHO) Network aims to improve health targets for the almost 80,000 people enrolled with its 15 practice teams with the extension of Vensa Health’s TXT2Remind practice-patient messaging system.  Practice teams are able to deliver appointment, Smoking A and B and immunisation reminders as well as key health messages direct to the patient via text message and interactive mobile content delivery. 

Hugh Kininmonth, Chief Executive of Hauraki PHO says, “The system will help achieve targets by making it easier to contact people about immunisations, recalls, flu vaccines and cardio risk assessments and other clinical issues.  Even things like monthly accounts can be sent out.  So we see it as being really useful for improving both clinical and business outcomes.”

The system will be free of charge across 15 General Practices in the HPHO Network that provide primary health services to around 80,000 enrolled patients. 

Kininmonth says, “We expect good take up by GPs as the system is far more effective than sending a letter and about 15% of the cost.  It’s also more effective, with both younger and older people, and more immediate than sending letters.  We get a better response via text message in part because we have a significant number of high needs patients who can be transient at times.

“The beauty of a mobile number is that they are maintained for a longer time than postal addresses in many cases.  It will be particularly helpful for about 10% of our enrolled population, and often the people with highest need we really want to target, including students and children moving between different family members.  It’s vital we stay in touch when it comes to immunisations for example.”

The rollout of the system to GP clinics is now completed and started to focus on driving results. 

Brett Paradine, GM Funding and Planning at Waikato District Health Board says, “Systematic precall and recall of vaccinations is key to achieving and maintaining high immunisation rates.  We've seen impressive improvement in immunisation performance from GP clinics using text-based reminder systems.”

Ahmad Jubbawey, Chief Executive of Vensa Health says it’s great to see yet another region using our technology to better help the population they are serving.   Technology is so pervasive today and it enables a more patient centric healthcare system.  As well as assisting health outcomes some great savings can be made through mHealth initiatives as fewer appointments are missed.” 

ENDS

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