Primary care improvement case study: Improving eczema management and care at Hauora Heretaunga

Hauora Heretaunga developed a Whakakotahi quality improvement project to improve the wellbeing of Māori children aged 0–4 years suffering physically and emotionally with eczema.

Whānau were invited to have an initial one-hour consultation with the nurse. As part of this consultation, they completed a Flinders Partnership assessment form that covered all aspects of life and allowed them to set goals to improve their overall wellbeing. The nurse provided support and guidance through this process and scheduled contact and follow-up.

Among the whānau who took part in this programme, 84 percent achieved the goals they had set for themselves. In addition, the number of presentations to a general practitioner (GP) with eczema flare decreased.

Read the full case study below.

Whakakotahi was the Commission’s successful three-year programme to increase quality improvement capability in primary care. Primary care teams were supported by the Commission to implement quality improvement projects on an area of patient care they wanted to improve that wass important to their patients/community and to them as providers of care.