Better Sooner More Convenient Primary Care - New Zealand Doctor

Appendix Seven: Integration - HealthPathways
1. Aspirational statement:
Patients will receive care that is consistent, co-ordinated and in accordance with best practice
guidelines across their health care journey.
2 Project overview
HealthPathways is a web-based information system developed by Canterbury DHB Planning and
Funding in conjunction with local clinicians. GPs and hospital clinicians identified the importance
of current information in securing the best care for patients within existing constraints
(workforce and fiscal) and developed HealthPathways to provide this information, with a primary
focus on general practice care, as part of the Canterbury Initiative (see www.canterbury
initiative.org.nz.).
This project describes the adaptation and implementation of HealthPathways for the West
Coast.
3 Problem definition
Description of HealthPathways
HealthPathways:
Uses the skills of other clinicians including nursing, allied health, and health scientists.
Provides local information about local services.
Is based on and referenced to Best Practice NZ guidelines if available, or international
guidelines.
Provides information on assessment, management, hospital departments, and referral;
and also patient information, reference material, and educational resources.
Covers the most frequent reasons for referral to a hospital department, acute and
non acute.
Is complementary to the planned electronic referral management system.
Keeps clinicians up-to-date with which services are available, which are funded, and how
to access them.
Business case appendices V12 AC 25Feb2010 Page 63