ABOUT US

Creating a better health care experience altogether

Corporate overview April 2010

1.   Introduction  

The Intercare Group was founded in 2000 with the establishment of its first medical and dental centre in Lynnwood, Pretoria in 2002.  Three other medical and dental centres followed shortly thereafter, one in Fourways, Johannesburg and two in the Western Cape, namely in Tyger Valley and Blaauwberg. The number of medical and dental centres increased significantly and currently there are 13 centres in operation – eight in Gauteng, two in the Eastern Cape and three in the Western Cape. 
In 2006, the company entered the hospital market with the opening of the Tyger Valley Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Hospital, with a capacity of 58 beds.  This bold move paved the way for other hospitals to follow in the future.  A company called Intercare Hospital Holdings was registered in 2009 and this entity will focus on the building and management of hospitals with special emphasis on day hospitals, sub-acute hospitals and smaller general hospitals.  

2. Setting new standards in health care

Intercare has an ongoing commitment to transform the health care experience, by setting new standards and providing access to cost-effective, quality health care.   

The company’s aim is to set new standards of value in healthcare through the ongoing introduction of products and services into a network of world-class health care facilities.  These centres and hospital are committed to consistent levels of excellence and professionalism in service delivery.  

The Intercare Medical & Dental Centres are based on the retail concept where a variety of health care services is available under one roof - saving the patient time, money and effort.  The services available include doctors, dentists, oral hygienists, pathologists, radiologists, physiotherapists and optometrists.   Most Intercare centres also host dieticians, psychologists, psychiatrists, audiologists, speech therapists, biokineticists and prosthetists. Baby clinics and travel health services are part of the package and our nursing services also offer wound care. 

Longer opening hours makes it more accessible for the busy family of today.  Regular check-ups by the doctor and dentist over week-ends are encouraged especially if the patient cannot afford to leave the office during normal working hours.  Awareness and early detection of any illness can extend a life and consequently ease the costs of medical treatment to the benefit of the patient and the medical aid alike.  Therefore pro-active health care is promoted by Intercare’s health care professionals on all levels and in all aspects of the life cycle. 

All medical & dental centres have fully equipped procedure rooms minor surgical procedures and for acute and emergency care.  Although not a trauma unit, this facility also acts as an extension of the already burdened hospital emergency services.   

Following on Intercare’s commitment to promote pro-active health care, the Centre for Lifestyle Management (CLM) was established.  The centre identifies and treats patients with chronic lifestyle diseases such as high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension.  The centre’s aim is to equip patients with knowledge about their disease, treatment options and proposed lifestyle changes.  Intercare’s personnel are dedicated to assisting people to manage their lifestyle and consequently their chronic disease to ensure quality of life and optimal wellness.  Education is a strong focus within the CLM as one can only take control of a disease if you have adequate knowledge about it.  Patients are therefore also informed of new treatment options and the latest information in clinical research.  They are also encouraged to participate in clinical trials.  The Centre for Lifestyle Management forms an integral part of the service delivery at all Intercare Medical & Dental Centres. 

In pursuit of its mission to set new standards in healthcare, Intercare realized that a significant demand in the health environment exists for a facility for those patients who need additional care before returning home, but who were not able to stay in an acute hospital for a variety of reasons.  The company therefore established their first Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Hospital in the Western Cape in June 2006 and a second license has been awarded for a similar facility in Pretoria.  Expansion to other major city centres is already in the pipeline.      

The approach in the sub-acute environment is ‘high touch, low tech’ as opposed to the ‘high-tech, low touch’ approach of acute care facilities.  This facility has been designed for patients who have been hospitalised for an acute illness and who need additional care before returning home.  Sub-acute patients do not require intensive hospital treatment, but can benefit from additional restorative care, therapies or educational programs.   This is part of Intercare’s strategy to encourage proper recovery from serious illnesses to prevent any health complications in future. 

Services include:

1. Comprehensive nursing care
2. Wellness education (training in illness prevention and self-care)
3. Medication management
4. Education about self-administered treatment programs
5. Physiotherapy
6. Respiratory therapy
7. Occupational therapy
8. Speech therapy
9. Support for re-entry to social environment
10. Referral to home care services

These services are applied within the following four broad categories:

1. Step-down facility for patients discharged from acute hospitals, but who still needs nursing care before returning home.
2. Sub-acute care to those patients discharged from medical and surgical wards that need wound care and medication administration.
3. Rehabilitation for stroke patients, head injuries, multiple trauma patients and amputees. 
4. Nursing care and pain management for sub-acute patients who are unable to take care of themselves 

Intercare recognized the growing need for alternative facilities vs. acute care facilities as the trends in the market became evident.  Feasibility studies showed that urbanisation will provide the market as high density areas (e.g. Gauteng) will have the continuous need for medical services.  Constant financial pressure will ensure the support of medical schemes and already overexerted acute hospitals.  Technology has advanced to such an extent that smaller surgical procedures can be done within a few days and the larger part of recuperation can take place at home.  The latter will not only speed up recovery, but will ensure that people can return to the working environment sooner with less economic down-time.  There is a growing interest in hospital plans and as families are faced with growing financial constraints, the day hospital and sub-acute hospital provide them with a wider choice of care should they need surgery of any kind.  The opportunity is to establish these centres so they can be accessible to everyone.  The challenge is to make it affordable.  In addition, medical aids will be able to provide a more attractive option to their clients with the emphasis on quality care and value for money as these hospitals can be included in their hospital plan options. 

The establishment of these hospitals also plays a role in job creation and the advancement of health care in South Africa.  It is undoubtedly providing an opportunity for health care professionals to practise in their own country as they have the facilities to execute their duties professionally and without compromise.  Intercare considers the establishment of more of these facilities not only as a service to the market, but also as a responsibility to create a platform for our doctors and specialists.     

In this regard, Intercare has already received a license for the establishment of the company’s first day hospital in Pretoria, Gauteng.

3. The values that drives us

By following a cycle of innovation and instilling a passion for service delivery in all staff, from frontline services personnel to health care personnel, we ensure that the ethos of “creating a better health care experience altogether” is not only tangible and measurable but sustainable.  Therefore, the values that drive our way of conducting business on all levels, are”

1. Competence - we strive to recruit individuals with the skills, knowledge en behaviour to achieve high levels of performance
2. Recognition – we respect and encourage our people to grow as unique contributors to the organisation.
3. Integrity – we nurture an environment where honesty, truthfulness is encouraged and our actions, values and principles are consistent
4. Excellence – we strive to excel in everything we do
5. Commitment – we are determined and persistent in acting according to a sound set of beliefs, to develop as individuals, but also as part of the Intercare team

We are a professional and innovative health care group playing an equitable, socially responsible and sustainable role in our country’s future. 

Dr Hendrik Hanekom
Dr Hanekom obtained an MBChB from the University of Pretoria in 1978.  He practised as a general practitioner from 1980 to 1987.  He then joined the Medical Association of South Africa (SAMA), the professional association for doctors with more than 16 000 members.   He became Chief Executive of this organisation in 1990. 

During his term as Chief Executive of SAMA, the organisation transformed:

1. As a business, from being just a representative body to a knowledge-based service organisation. 
2. Politically, by integrating all the disparate medical professional organisations into a new organisation, the South African Medical Association. 
3. Technologically, by implementing information architecture, equipping it for the digital economy. 

Dr Hanekom served as a board member of the World Medical Association for eight years and was also an advisor to the Director-General of the World Health Organisation.

Dr George Veliotes
Dr George Veliotes qualified as a medical doctor from the University of Pretoria in 1985, served his internship at Baragwanath hospital and practised in the Respiratory and Intensive Care Units at the hospital. 

He obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) at Wits Business School.  His research report examined strategic options for the medical aid industry in South Africa. 

Dr Veliotes spent time in the USA gathering experience in various managed care organisations.  From 1993 to 1996 he headed the health policy and private practice divisions of the South African Medical Association. 

In this position he was actively involved in the formulation of health policy and participated in many national forums dealing with private and public health sector issues. 

In 1997 he co-chaired the managed care committee established by the Department of Health to formulate policy on managed health care in South Africa. 

Dr Veliotes has presented keynote addresses in numerous international and local forums and has extensive publications including a book entitled ‘An Introduction to Managed Health Care in South Africa’.  He serves as a director in various companies and specialises in strategic planning, health care information systems and in the design, development and administration of integrated managed care delivery systems. 

Dr George Veliotes is currently Chairperson of the Intercare Group’s Board of Directors.

5. Contact details

CORPORATE OFFICE
Office Block, Glenfair Shopping Centre
Cnr Lynnwood and Daventry Roads
LYNNWOOD, PRETORIA

Po Box 75832, Lynnwood Ridge 0040, South Africa
Tel (012) 368 8889, Fax (012) 368 8885
info@intercare.co.za