ProCare charity - first call for funding applications

26 November 2014 For immediate release

ProCare charity - first call for funding applications announced

The ProCare Charitable Foundation will be calling for its first funding applications early next year from Aucklanders wanting to improve the health of the region’s high needs communities. Announced at yesterday’s Annual General Meeting, ProCare Health chair Dr Harley Aish said the foundation was now ‘ready to go’.

‘As chair of the organisation, I’m really excited the foundation is underway; as a member, I’m reassured that if ProCare does create surpluses again they will help the Auckland community; and as a GP, I will be unreservedly encouraging people to apply for the funding.

It’s really something. This will benefit all of Auckland.’

The foundation was agreed to at a special general meeting in 2012 after the concept was supported by more than three quarters of ProCare’s membership. Many members were uncomfortable at receiving dividends and the overwhelming majority felt any accumulated surpluses should be redirected to communities in need. The purposes of the foundation, which has been established with $1.4m in funds, are:

• To promote the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged communities across the greater Auckland region

• Other purposes (whether relating to the relief of poverty, the advancement of education or any other matter beneficial to the community) which are charitable according to the law of New Zealand

While the purposes are generic in nature, the opportunity exists to support a diverse range of health-related activities in greater Auckland that will support improved population health outcomes.

The Foundation’s operations (ie, investment strategy, processes for grant and funding applications, eligibility criteria and administration) are yet to be fully developed and implemented. However, the Board’s intention is that funds and grants will be available on an annual basis to eligible programmes and that the gifting programme will start in November 2015. Trustees will call for applications early next year to allow time for proposals to be developed and considered.

PHL’s three independent directors, June McCabe, James Sclater and Trevor Janes, are the foundations’ first trustees. ‘I’m delighted with these appointments. The trustees have served for many years on the PHL board and will ensure financial rigour and impartiality in allocating the funds,’ said Dr Aish. ProCare’s Clinical Directorate will provide clinical guidance.

ProcureNet

Dr Aish also announced the trialling of ProCare’s new procurement to payment portal in eight Auckland practices before Christmas, with a roll-out to the rest of the network by the end of quarter two next year.

‘Our aim is to reduce a practice’s back office purchasing costs by at least 20%; that means more money to put into the front office to help patients. As a GP and business owner, savings like these are of immense benefit,’ said Dr Aish.

ProcureNet will have at least two suppliers in every purchasing category, ensuring practices have choices and prices are competitive. Current suppliers include OfficeMax, EBOS, Samsung, Amtech, Pharmaco, Nitrogenex, Staples, and PB Technology.

Board appointments

Other AGM business included the reappointment of Drs Jonathan Fox and Lewis King to the PHL board, while chair Harley Aish had his mid-term appointment ratified.

ProCare highlights - 2014

• National health targets - the ProCare network ranked first equal and second in the end of year National Health Target PHO table:

1st equal - more heart and diabetes checks

92% - total population

90% - high needs

2nd - better help for smokers to quit

104% - total population

107% - high needs

• ProcureNet - procurement to payment portal pilot trialed successfully internally; now being rolled out to practices

• ProCare Charitable Foundation - charitable status granted, trustees appointed

• Homecare Medical - a telehealth partnership between ProCare and Pegasus Health, supporting more than 600 general practices and caring for around 2.2 million New Zealanders

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