Better Sooner More Convenient Primary Care - New Zealand Doctor

8 Contracting arrangements
8.1 Role of the IFHS
The Integrated Family Health Service (IFHS) would lead the development of community and
primary care services, and would be accountable to the DHB for the financial and clinical
outcomes of the delegated services. It would work closely with the DHB to achieve a smooth
interface with secondary services, including the development of integrated care pathways
between primary and secondary services (building off the Canterbury DHB pathways). The two
would also share corporate support services in the interim.
The IFHS will both employ staff directly, and will contract with individual providers to achieve
the outcomes. It will establish district development and support services (in many cases jointly
with the DHB) to ensure professional development and support for specific workforce groups
(eg. allied health staff) and will put in place overall policies an processes (eg. use of HML to
triage all after hours calls, use of common standing orders policies). The IFHS will be in a good
position to compare performance between the three IFHCs and address issues at an early stage.
The IFHS also has the role of prioritizing service provision – taking the tough decisions about
what will not be provided so as to live within the available funding. An advantage of an NGO
entity in this respect is its inability to run continuing deficits and to rely on the Government as
a funder of last resort.
8.2 Annual health service plan
The proposal is that an annual health services plan be agreed between the DHB and IFHS,
setting out:
inputs
outputs
outcome targets
reporting schedule
information access arrangements
facilities leases
payments from and to the DHB
services to be provided
quality standards
sharing of corporate costs.
Business case EoI V38 AC 25Feb10 Page 56