Health Coach
Health coaching is a way of helping people gain the knowledge, skills, tools and confidence they need to take an active part in their own health care. It helps them reach the health goals they want to achieve.
KEY POINTS
- Health coaching is useful if you are working with someone who has ongoing health issues or complex health needs.
- Its goal is to improve their long-term outcomes.
- It can include whānau members, so they can also support your client in achieving their health goals.
WHAT IS THE IDEA BEHIND HEALTH COACHING?
Health coaching is based on the saying that if you give a person a fish, they will eat for a day, but if you teach them to fish, they will eat for a lifetime.
It's not about one person rescuing another; it's about giving someone the resources to help themselves. Rescuing is appropriate for acute care when doctors need to take over and do something or tell someone what to do. But if someone has an ongoing health issue, rather than telling them what to do, a health coach works alongside them so they can manage their condition well and achieve the goals that they set.
WHAT DOES A HEALTH COACH DO?
Just like sports coaches, the role of a health coach is to inspire confidence in you, share knowledge with you and find ways to motivate you to achieve your goals.
They might help someone manage their appointments or medication, answer questions about their condition, or explain more fully why the doctor recommended they take certain actions. They will help them work out what they want to achieve and will help them find the support to do that. Health coaches have five roles, which are to:
1. provide support for their client to manage their condition themselves
2. bridge the gap between their client and their doctor
3. help their client find their way around the healthcare system
4. offer their client emotional support
5. be their client's ongoing first person to contact if they have a question.
| Self-management support | - Providing information - Teaching disease-specific skills - Assisting with the emotional impact of chronic illness - Encouraging follow up - Encouraging participation |
| Bridge between clinician and patient | - Serving as the patient's liaison - Ensuring that patient understands and agrees with care plan - Providing cultural and language concordance |
| Navigation of the health care system |
- Connecting the patient with resources - Facilitating support - Empowering the patient - Ensuring the patient's voice is heard |
| Emotional support | - Showing interest - Inquiring about emotional issues - Showing compassion - Teaching coping skills |
| Continuity | - Providing familiarity - Following up - Establishing trust - Being available |
Long Term Condition Management (Repeat Prescriptions)
The Doctors Apollo Long Term Condition Medication Management Process is based on researched safe practice. It is designed to ensure that you, and all our patients, receive the most appropriate treatment and are given the best advice in order to optimize your health and well-being.
If you have not read our Process before please read it before requesting a repeat prescription, by clicking here.
The Doctors Apollo's prescription service aims to complete your repeat prescription requests within 3 working days. If you take regular long-term medications please ensure prescription requests are made in plenty of time to avoid disappointment.
If you require a same-day URGENT PRESCRIPTION ($45), please call us on 09 477 3700 and request it over the phone. Please note the cut-out time for same-day service is 10am. Requests received after 10am will be processed on the next working day.
Thank you for assisting us to care for you.
The ordering of online repeat prescriptions can now only be accessed via our patient portal called ManageMyHealth.
Registration to ManageMyHealth needs to be with the practice staff, and you may be asked for a photo identification and a current email address. Alternatively you can phone the receptionist on 09 4773700 to order your repeat prescription. You will need to provide your name date of birth, contact phone number and the medications you require.
Charges: (please note we do not offer an urgent repeat prescription service - if you need your prescription in less than three working days you will need to come in and see a doctor to get it). All prescription requests for patients 14 years and older are charged based on the time taken for the doctor to review and prepare your prescription and are charged at a flat fee of $35 per patient. Patients not eligible for NZ healthcare funding will incur a higher fee.
You can pick up this prescription from our reception, once you have received notification that it is ready to be collected, or you can request it be faxed to your local pharmacy at no additional cost.
