Te Mana Taurite | The Equity Module 2021.1 

Completing this module is a great way to better understand health equity and then start, or build on, delivering that to your patients. 

In this module we’ll show practices how you can work towards health equity by:

  • Providing guidance about what health equity looks like in general practice.
  • Putting in place activities and policies that focus your practice on quality improvement.
  • Developing ways to improve health outcomes for Māori and other priority populations.

A lot of thinking and research has gone into developing this Equity Module. These components will give you some further background information if you’d like a deeper understanding of health equity and Māori health. 

The College’s expectations are that health outcomes for patients and whānau in a Cornerstone Practice will become equitable over time, both for Tangata Whenua and for the practice’s priority populations.

The Equity Module consists of four indicators, criteria, range of evidence, and guidance:

1: Te Hautūtanga | Organisation and leadership

Pro-equity practice teams have an explicit commitment to ensuring health equity outcomes. They have knowledgeable staff who are trained in health equity in a general practice context and have health equity embedded into their governance and management.

This indicator has three criteria, a short description of the main evidence requirements are:

  1. A health equity policy 
  2. Health equity targets are built into leadership goals 
  3. Documentation showing that practice team members can connect their roles to the practice’s commitment to health equity outcomes

2: Te Kāhui Mahi | Workforce

Pro-equity practices have systems and processes in place to actively recruit, develop and retain practice team members who support pro-equity values. Pro-equity practice team members understand and reflect their practice population and the communities they serve.

This indicator has one criterion, a short description of the main evidence requirement is:

  • Practice recruitment material for new recruits which includes pro-equity values, skills and a commitment to the principles and practice of health equity. 

3: Ngā Kaihoe | Practice team

Pro-equity practices ensure all team members are trained in the principles and practice of health equity, reflection, and self-critique. They understand and address bias, cultural competency, and cultural safety, and create an inclusive and culturally-safe experience for patients, whānau or families, and the communities they serve.

This indicator has three criteria, a short description of the main evidence requirements are:

  1. Staff training records, or equivalent, detailing training in health equity.
  2. Cultural safety and competence policy.
  3. Staff training records, or equivalent, detailing training in bias. 

4: Te Whakatere Waka | Service development and delivery

Pro-equity practices collaborate with partners in the community to develop equitable services and programmes that foster an inclusive and culturally safe environment for patients, whānau/families, and the communities they serve. Pro-equity practice teams use current and accurate quantitative and qualitative data to inform initiatives to promote health equity outcomes.

This indicator has four criteria, a short description of the main evidence requirements are:

  1. Ethnicity data 
  2. Displays of data and audit findings for team members
  3. Team meeting notes with health equity as a standing agenda item 
  4. A plan outlining how the practice develops and delivers services and programmes that promote and monitor health equity outcomes.
  5. Patient / whānau surveys or other feedback processes which including cultural safety

Kia pai rawa tō koutou huarahi ki te mana taurite – all the best in your practice’s journey towards health equity.