The next generation in practice management
Published 26 May 2021 on www.nzdoctor.co.nz
Dwayne Stewart from Health Te Aroha and Rhonda Jackson, business and advertising manager of New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa at The Health Media
PRACTICE OR BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award recognises a creative individual who has been shown to have made a real and sustainable difference to key aspects of the business. They will showcase professionalism, innovation and a keen desire to deliver the best possible solutions to improve practice business, infrastructure and patient focused services. They may have championed and led the introduction of a new technology or system to improve workflow, reduced overheads and improved patient relationships and services, or created a more diverse workforce.
WINNER: DWAYNE STEWART
Transforming his role as Health Te Aroha’s business manager and achieving it in only two years, are just two of the reasons Pinnacle Incorporated believes Dwayne Stewart represents the future of practice management.
Health Te Aroha is a teaching rural general practice in Te Aroha, north Waikato for 5560 patients. The practice was one of Pinnacle’s first health care home practices and one of the first practices to pioneer shared medical appointments and patient participation groups.
“There are a lot of high-calibre practice managers in our network but Dwayne, in a very short space of time, has come in and really developed the role into what we would say the next generation of practice manager will look like,” Pinnacle Incorporated chief executive Helen Parker says.
In his first role in general practice, Mr Stewart used his business management skills to transform efficiency in the practice, which benefited all corners of the practice including staff, patients and the business. Mrs Parker says one of his strengths is the way he uses data to inform decision-making.
He mapped acute demand for the previous three years and was able to identify days and times when staffing changes needed to be made, so acute-demand patients could be seen the same day.
With the support of the team, Mr Stewart has also embraced and supported the health care home, shared medical appointments and patient participation groups.
By building strong relationships with patients, so patients have a strong voice in service delivery, he has established a patient participation group that has led to service redesign in the reception and improved communication. He has also helped many of them use the new patient portal.
“In addition to all that he has achieved, in a very demanding and busy job, he has also led the acquisition and merger of another practice,” Mrs Parker says.
Mr Stewart mentors and supports other managers and freely shares his expertise and data analysis with the Pinnacle network.
He has also presented at a number of healthcare conferences.
Judges' comments:
For a relatively “new kid” on the (health sector) block, Dwayne appears to have achieved plenty…and from comments/testimonies, his innovations have met with wide approval.
A smooth operator runs a happy practice
FINALIST: MICHELLE MEENAGH
Michelle Meenagh is business manager of Raglan Medical. Pictured here with her team, Michelle is in the middle.
Raglan Medical's Michelle Meenagh juggles staff welfare, the smooth operation of a new multipurpose building and the business side of the practice so well, it inspired practice owner Michael Loten to nominate her this year.
“It was realising the way she works meant her role was crucial in making sure the practice ran smoothly,” he says.
She considers the welfare of all the staff to be one of the most important parts of her job and, if people are happy, they are more productive, Dr Loten says.
This welfare includes checking in with every staff member each day and ensuring their busy workloads are achievable.
Based in Raglan township, Raglan Medical serves a population of 5774 patients.
In terms of bricks and mortar, Mrs Meenagh’s biggest achievement was development of the practice’s new building, Dr Loten says.
“That was a major piece of work and she was instrumental in seeing it through the different stages of the design process, to project-managing the build, all while running the business side of the practice.”
Judges' comments:
Michelle is an outstanding leader, manager, service provider, community member and supporter, building designer and networker. Raglan is lucky to have her
Interested in entering the awards and becoming a Primary Star in 2022?
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