Over the past six months, Awanui Labs’ experience and expertise in delivering Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) has supported Health New Zealand’s Rural Urgent Unplanned Care (RUUC) programme complete the roll-out of critical care to six different regional locations across the country.
“The RUUC programme’s target is 98 percent of New Zealanders can access urgent and after-hours healthcare within a one-hour drive of their home, and particularly for rural and remote communities,” says Awanui Point of Care Coordinator, Tracey Hollings.
“Health New Zealand identified enhanced POCT as one of the RUUC’s six core service components, which can support better clinical decision making, reducing patient transfers and improve patient outcomes through more timely intervention.”
“Awanui is working with Health New Zealand and the medical centres involved to coordinate the purchase, verify, install, and connect POCT analysers along with development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training for local staff on how to use them.”
Tracey says Awanui delivers POCT in different regions across South Island Te Waipounamu and we have expanded capability and services in medical centres in Golden Bay near Nelson, and Twizel (South Canterbury) through the programme.
“There has also been a concerted effort to ensure patient results flow from the point of care analysers into the Awanui Laboratory Information System and then relevant clinical repositories.
“This ensures point of care results are available in real time to all relevant health care providers.”
Tracey says the roll-out to the six locations (two of which are under Awanui Labs oversight) is a significant milestone for RUUC, and Awanui is continuing to work alongside local and national providers to enhance point of care services, via the programme.
“Both the programme and POCT have a key role in rural and remote communities having access to the healthcare they need, when they need it, reducing their need to travel for treatment and reducing pressure on hospitals and medical facilities in other centres.
“We are proud to be part of RUUC, providing greater access to pathology and laboratory services, continuing to support better health options and outcomes for New Zealanders.”
(Photo – Twizel Medical Centre nurse Paula Trembath with their new PoC Testing instruments)