THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE COORDINATOR
The role of the Healthcare Coodinator is to offer a Primary Health Nursing service to the residents of the Village. “Primary Health Nursing” is defined as the nursing care offered during one’s first contact with a health professional and incorporates the following principles:
• Health promotion & wellness checks
• Chronic disease management
• Wound management
• Chronic disease management
• GP referrals
• Health assessments & screening
• Therapy support referrals
• Home-Based Care assistance
• Chronic & acute medication facilitation through our dedicated pharmacy
The Healthcare Coordinator operates the Healthcare Clinic during clinic times when village residents can attend and receive the service of primary health nursing. The Healthcare Coordinator aims to visit each resident at least once every 12 months to check on their overall well-being, and update medical and relevant personal information for use in case of an emergency. Of course there is no obligation to residents and they can also update their own records electronically. The Healthcare Coordinator forms part of the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) and will schedule visits to residents based on the frequency determined by the MDT.
The Healthcare Coordinator is available to call on residents during office hours on the days she is allocated to the village, to attend to the occasional resident who needs temporary primary nursing support. This may include a follow up after a hospital admission/surgery, support after the loss of a loved one, or the dressing of a wound where the resident is immobilised. These would be cases where the resident cannot
attend the healthcare clinic. Where ongoing or more intensive assistance is required the resident will be referred to an appropriate service provider.
Examples
of services to be expected of the Healthcare Coordinator include the following
• Offering assistance to a resident if found in need of additional care and support, in ill health, or requiring support.
• Ensuring the detection and prevention of elder abuse or exploitation by caregivers or others.
• Helping to facilitate any additional professional support required.
• This may include: Occupational Therapist, Social Worker or resident’s GP.
• Primary nursing care services ONLY within the healthcare clinic. This may include the recording of blood pressure, a finger prick glucose test, a urine dipstix test etc. Consumables used will be appropriately charged for e.g. urine dispstix test strips, dressings etc.
• Arranging chronic medication to be packed by the pharmacy in blister packs.
• Arranging chronic medication to be administered via pharmacy provided blister packs. These should be purchased through the Faircape Health Pharmacy and delivered to the resident’s home.
Please Note: The Healthcare Coordinator does not:
• Attend to panic buttons.
• Administer any medication or injections without a valid Doctor’s prescription.
• Provide treatment / monitoring of the residents at his / her home if the resident is able to attend the clinic. Such a service can be arranged but will be for the resident’s account.
In an emergency situation, the Emergency Services should be contacted immediately. Please read the Emergency Booklet for further information in this regard.
