Using Information for Practice Change to Improve Health Outcomes for New Zealand Children

Abstract
The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society is the Well Child Provider for 90 percent of New Zealand families. In 2002 Plunket implemented a new information system (the Plunket Client Information System – PCIS) that collects information by individual client using the NHI. In 2002 the Ministry of Health also introduced the Well Child Framework. Using the information from the PCIS, Plunket has been able to inform and change staff practice to provide a more universal service, and additional services to clients with higher need. This has lead to some very positive health benefits for families including an increase in clients accessing Plunket services and a decrease in hospital admissions in the Counties–Manukau area. This paper will examine how the information is being collected and used to assist Plunket staff to make changes to their practice to ensure improved health outcomes for the children of New Zealand.

NB: Full paper will be added by 15 October 2006.