Prickle Community Acupuncture Clinic
About us
Prickle is a non-profit health provider; our goal is to grow into a community clinic
Prickle is a community acupuncture
organisation formed in Melbourne 2009
Our Mission:
•
To make acupuncture more affordable and
accessible
•
To target services to people with low incomes and
from disadvantaged backgrounds
Source: Progress Leader Jan 2010
Since 2009, we have operated two pilot clinics
(each open one day a week) sponsored by Inner
East Community Health Services.
Our pilot clinics featured
in January 2010
’
s
Progress Leader
We
’
re collaborative, not
competitive
We want strong relationships with
other services. Being non-profit
makes it easier for other services
to refer patients to us.
We
’
re affordable
Our services will be directed to
those that can’t use the other
health services regularly because
of price
We
’
re engaging
Holistic health includes healthy
eating and exercise.
People with disabilities and
socioeconomic disadvantages are at
higher risk of chronic disease
Without a decent income, these people
have little chance to access holistic
healthcare
Prickle aims to fill the gap not met by existing providers: we provide affordable acupuncture
and complement state and community health services
The social issue
Poor and disadvantaged people can’t afford quality healthcare
People in the lowest socioeconomic status report
the highest incidences of:
•
Smoking
•
Obesity
•
Depression
•
Diabetes
•
Chronic respiratory disease
•
Cardiovascular disease
•
Severe or profound disability
Acupuncture can help:
•
Manage and prevent chronic disease
•
Reduce the burden on community and public
health systems
•
Reduce dependence on medications
•
Increase health and happiness
Who we can help
•
A large percentage of our patients receive
government benefits and are referred from
other services
www.prickle.org.au
INNER EAST COMMUNITY
Boroondara Community
Health Centre
378 Burwood Road, Hawthorn
Yarra Health Services
283 Church Street, Richmond
INNER EAST COMMUNITY
Christine Lee
B.App.Sci(CM)/B.App.Sci(HB), B.A.
Registered Doctor of Chinese Medicine since 2008
Co-ordinator of TCM Volunteer Clinic, The Wellington Centre (2009-present)
State Committee member, Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association (2008-2010)
Acupuncturist at Prickle clinic Hawthorn (2009 – present)
Private practice – City Health Melbourne (2009-2011)
Helen Bourke
B.App.Sci(CM)/B.App.Sci(HB)
Registered Doctor of Chinese Medicine since 2009
Volunteer at TCM Volunteer Clinic, The Wellington Centre (2008-2010)
Acupuncturist at Prickle clinic Richmond (2010 – present)
Private practice – Bing’s Natural Health Chinese Medicine (2011-present)
The Prickle Community Acupuncture team consists of:
Who is the low-cost acupuncture patient?
Prickle pilot clinic current patient gender
(% of patients)
Low, 83% Med, 15% High, 2% 5% 1% 14% 29% 18% 11% 22% >10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 60 61+Prickle pilot clinic current patient income
(% of patients)
Prickle pilot clinic current patient age
(% of patients)
Male, 28% Female,
Who is the low-cost acupuncture patient?
Prickle pilot clinic patient demographics
(% of patients)
27% 29% 26% 12% 4% 2% Local 1-5km 5-10km 11-15km 16-20km 21km+ Pain, 56% Mental Health, 5% Pregnancy support, 5% Other, 34%Prickle pilot clinic current patient- reason for visit
(% of patients)
Board of Directors
• Christine Lee (President) - Christine is a registered Chinese Medicine practitioner. She is a co-ordinator at the Hands on Health Chinese Medicine Collingwood clinic. She is also a member of the Victorian State Committee of AACMA - the peak body representing acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine practitioners in Australia.
• Joanne Sharkey (Vice President) - Joanne is a registered Chinese Medicine practitioner.
Joanne was an original founder and practitioner at Prickle. She continues to provide strategic advice. She is currently residing in Beijing
• Helen Bourke (Secretary) - Helen is a registered Chinese Medicine practitioner. She works as an acupuncturist for the Richmond Prickle clinic, as well as practicing privately in Middle Park.
• Tom Novak (Treasurer) - Tom is a strategy manager, and has had six years experience consulting for one of the world's largest management consulting firms. His background is in customer strategy, business transformation and finance analysis. Tom is currently completing his MBA at Melbourne Business School.
• Alex Gibson (Board member) - Alex is a social media strategist and developer. Alex created our website, wiki and online patient database and continues to provide strategic advice.
He is currently residing in Beijing.
• Frances Farnan(Board Member) - Co-founder, acupuncturist currently practicing at Moonee Ponds & Torquay Registered practitioner of Chinese Medicine
Frances was an original founder and practitioner at Prickle. She continues to provide strategic advice.
• Willliam Lee (Board Member) - William works in communications. He has a background in web and software development. His key contributions to Prickle are as an advisor in branding, social media, graphic design and media. He also provides support for web and database management.
• Damian Facciolo (Board Member) - Damian is a grants co-ordinator. He also has many years working in the non-for-profit sector as a health advocate. Damian has a broad knowledge of the health sector and grant application process.
The Challenges
•
Maintaining Patient Privacy in Multi-bed environment
•
Using “borrowed” space
•
Staff resources
•
Limited Financial Resources
Prickle Community Acupuncture
– Future direction
•
Our first years of operation have given us valuable experience and the desire to
open a multi-bed acupuncture clinic
•
Prickle
’
s strengths
•
Existing patient database
•
Established clinical systems
•
Established links with community and state health services
•
Established and growing referral networks
What is the demand for low-cost multi-bed acupuncture?
Those that would consider acupuncture for treatment
(% of respondents)
Surveys in target areas (Moreland and Yarra) indicate
a high potential demand for treatment in a multi-bed
clinic, especially at reduced cost
79% 70%
90%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Would you consider a mult-bed clinic at a reduced
price? Would you consider a multi-bed clinic for acupuncture? Would you consider acupuncture for a health issue?
Prickle Community
Acupuncture
•
Found our target market
•
Had clinical success with our services
•
Becoming known in community health
networks
•
Found a model that will deliver our services
at relatively low costs
•
Ready to grow
Working with The Crunch
The Crunch can take us to the next level
Prickle Community Acupuncture has
existing strengths and is ready to grow
Prickle Community
Acupuncture
Full-time multi-bed
clinic opening 2012
The
Crunch
Business
Develop
ment
Program
Interested in being involved?
Contact Christine Lee or Helen Bourke