Who is South Link Health?
South Link Health Inc is a not for profit Independent Practitioner Association (IPA), with charitable status.
History
The Research Unit of The Royal NZ College of General Practitioners, based at the Dunedin Medical School, undertook a research project to trial pharmaceutical and laboratory budget holding within general practice.
Out of the success of that trial came Health Link Dunedin Inc in August 1993. In 1997 the name was changed to South Link Health Inc, as our membership had grown from the original 11 general practitioners to New Zealand’s most geographically dispersed IPA, with members throughout the South Island from Takaka to Bluff.
Today South Link Health Inc has a membership base of 501 General Practitioners, 386 Practice Nurses and 211 Practice Managers/Administrators.
Present
South Link Health’s primary role is to support general practice within the South Island. This support takes many forms, from contracting with health funders, to the development of clinical programmes which are delivered through general practice to improve the health outcomes of patients, through to offering a range of support services to our members.
In addition to supporting South Island general practice we also provide a range of management services to both South Island and North Island based Primary Health Organisations.
Our success and strengths in providing services and support to primary care is due to:
- strong relationships that have been established, fostered and maintained since 1993 with the general practitioner members
- networking, relationships and linkages across the wider health sector
- understanding of the general practice team
- understanding of the health environment, with expertise in the complexities of the primary health area
- ability to analyse data for the development of tailored resources and initiatives to promote change behaviour leading to desired outcomes
- proven record in education provision and the introduction of new ideas, initiatives and challenges to the general practice team
- ability to develop and maintain relationships with other health funding organisations as well as other health providers
- contributions to National initiatives and Standards projects
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