June 19, 2012 -- Patients are enjoying the new model of care being offered by three Midlands Health Network practices in Hamilton, a new survey shows.

The three practices trading under the Northcare brand owned by the network's subsidiary Primary Health Care Ltd started as pilot sites for the model of care last year.

As part of the network's Better Sooner More Convenient business case, the three practices were trialling the use of a single patient contact centre.

All calls to the practices are answered by the centre, which can offer nurse triage and help set up phone and email consultations with GPs and nurses.

A survey of patients shows 85 per cent are satisfied in all aspects of the service, 15 per cent had emailed their GP and 32 per cent had had a phone consultation.

According to a media release from the network, patients told researchers at Waikato University:

"Emails from the doctor have been great; it's great to have some sort of follow up, for example, he emailed to confirm that I was taking the right antibiotics."

"He gave me the prescription over the phone without having to go in and that saved me time and money."

Posted by Veronica Silva Cusi, news correspondent
Source: http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz