Mossman Gorge Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) has been named Rural and Remote General Practice of the Year in a gala event in Sydney.

Mossman Gorge PHCC, the only community controlled primary health care centre on Cape York, is run by Apunipima Cape York Health Council which provides culturally appropriate, family centred comprehensive primary health care to 11 Cape York communities.

The award was presented by Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited (AGPAL), the leading provider of accreditation and related quality improvement services to general practices.

Accreditation is based on standards developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Apunipima Program Manager of Family Health, Leeona West, said the award was a significant milestone for Apunipima, Mossman Gorge PHCC and most importantly, the people and communities of Cape York.   

“AGPAL accreditation demonstrates our ability to provide the highest quality care,” she said.

“This award means we are providing the highest quality of care possible in a rural and remote setting, and is significant as we were competing against mainstream organisations from across Australia.

“To be recognised as the Rural and Remote General Practice of the Year sends a clear message that Aboriginal Health Organisations are providing the best care in the country.”

The health picture at Mossman Gorge has changed significantly since Apunipima took over the community’s small Queensland Health clinic in 2009.

Back then, the clinic had paper records and doctors who visited the community for four hours a week. Anecdotally, health outcomes were poor with high rates of smoking, drinking and chronic disease.

Apunipima took over the clinic in December 2009, rebuilt it to AGPAL standards by June 2010, introduced electronic records and billing and was accredited by AGPAL in January 2011.

“We even implemented an Aboriginal patient friendly recall system which was so successful that the Brisbane Aboriginal and Islander Community Health Service copied our system for their clients,” Ms West said  

Quick Facts:

• Mossman Gorge PHCC, the only community controlled primary health care centre on Cape York, is run by Apunipima Cape York Health Council which provides culturally appropriate, family centred comprehensive primary health care to 11 Cape York communities;
• Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited (AGPAL) is the leading provider of accreditation and related quality improvement services to general practices. Accreditation is based on standards developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners;
• Mossman Gorge PHCC clients come from Mossman Gorge, Mossman, Port Douglas, Daintree, Hopevale and Wujal Wujal;
• Mossman Gorge PHCC currently has 350 clients (99% are Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders) up from 60 in 2010;
• Adult Health Checks increased from 62% in 2011 to 78% in 2012  (well above the 41% Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service standard set by the Queenslander Aboriginal and Islander Health Council);
• The health service achieved 74% coverage in 2012 for Pap smears, up from 12% in 2009;
• General Practitioner Chronic Disease Care Plans increased from 54% in 2011 to 79% in 2012; and
• Mossman Primary Health Care Centre is both AGPAL Accredited and Certified to the ISO 9001:2008 Standards.