Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP)
Role Overview and Scope of Practice:
HIPs are registered health professionals with experience in working in the mental health and addictions space.
Being based in a General Practice, there are no barriers as to who can see a HIP if the person is enrolled in the practice. People do not require a previous or current mental health or addiction diagnosis to make an appointment.
The HIP service is not appropriate for acute or enduring complex mental health challenges
Service Details:
Funded (free) appointments with the HIP.
Each appointment will be documented within Patient Management System (PMS) and is to be completed on the day of the appointment. For each appointment a wellbeing assessment form will be completed.
HIPs use a research-based method that helps patients:
- Accept their current experiences
- Develop healthier coping mechanisms
- Reconnect with personal values
- Take meaningful, concrete steps towards wellness
Most people get the help they need in a single visit others may require 2-3 visits. The appointment is usually 30 minutes.
Eligibility:
- Patient to be an enrolled member of the practice
- Mild to moderate MH challenges or wellbeing concerns
the HIP service is not appropriate for acute or enduring complex mental health challenges
Exclusions:
- Acute or enduring complex mental health challenges.
Referral Pathway:
- Book patients directly into the HIP's template in the PMS.
or
- Warm Handover in the General Practice
or
- Referral through Te Pokapū: IPMHA programme in 'other options' tab.
Why Refer:
By connecting patients with HIPs, you're offering:
- Quick, accessible wellbeing/mental health support
- A solution-focused intervention
- An opportunity to enhance patient resilience.
- A generalist approach to health psychology that enhances health and wellbeing
Health Coach (HC)
Role Overview and Scope of Practice:
Health Coaches support behaviour change in relation to health and wellness. The Health Coach is a non-registered health professional, and they work at the level of a competent consumer/Health Advocate.
Referral for mental health, addiction or social work are not appropriate.
Service Details:
Funded (free) appointments with the HC.
Each appointment will be documented within Patient Management System (PMS) and is to be completed on the day of the appointment. For each appointment a health and wellbeing assessment form will be completed.
The expectation is that the clinician has the clinical conversation about a diagnosis and the HC supports with a plan around lifestyle to meet wellbeing and health goals. The HC can walk alongside the client for a period to time to support the client until they become self-managing. HCs support with:
- Movement
- Sleep
- Linking clients in with community groups/support
- Healthy eating
- Health care system navigation
- Preparing for GP/NP appointments
Appointment times vary between 30-45 minutes depending on patient needs.
HCs will communicate the outcome of the session to the GP, either in person or via task (whichever the GP prefers).
Eligibility:
- Patient to be an enrolled member of the practice
- Patient must be 18+ (unless a caregiver is attending the appointment with the patient)
- Patient requires support with lifestyle related behaviour change, health literacy or social connection
Exclusions:
- mental health, addiction or social work needs
Referral Pathway:
- Book patients directly into the HC's template in the PMS.
or
- Warm Handover in the General Practice
or
- Referral through Te Pokapū: IPMHA programme in 'other options' tab.
Why Refer:
The research is telling us that health coaching is effective:
- ‘..health coaching services have a positive impact on behaviour change and the outcomes of patients with chronic diseases……’….health coaching has also been found to reduce the demand on healthcare services.
- [healthy lifestyle coaching] “…resulted in clinically relevant improvements in multiple biomarker risk factors ….’
- …’Coaching has helped improve health-related quality of life and reduced hospital admissions in patients with COPD’.
- ‘….positive impact on general risk reduction of chronic diseases…’
On the coast patients report feel supported scoring the interaction on average a 9/10 for helpfulness and 9.5/10 in terms of confidence to implement the health and wellness plan discussed.
HIP & HC Roles - General Information
Where does the clinical responsibly and oversight sit?
Clinical responsibly for both the Health Improvement Practitioner and the Health Coach remain with the referring clinician.
How much do these appointments cost?
Appointments are funded (free) for people enrolled in primary practices.