Margie Proposch- Bacon

Hi, my name is Margie Proposch-Bacon and I have recently started at Papamoa Pines as a Health Improvement Practitioner (or HIP for short). I have lived in Tauranga since 1996 having moved from Auckland and raised my four children here. I moved to the Mount eleven years ago and love the relaxed beach lifestyle.

I am a Registered Nurse with specialist practice in mental health. I have a broad range of experience having worked at District Health Board’s in both community and inpatient settings as well as primary care settings in the community. I have worked with children, adolescents, adults and older people.

The health improvement practitioner role is part of a new integrated way of working within the general practice. Being based in a general practice, there are no barriers as to who can see me, as long as the person is enrolled in the practice. I can see people of all ages.

People do not require a previous or current mental health or addiction diagnosis to make an appointment. Appointments can be made with reception and are available every day the HIP is in the practice for 20-30 minutes. Half of the day is for booked appointments and half is for unbooked appointments to allow for same-day referrals. 

At the appointment the HIP will focus on a particular problem and help the person make any changes they want to make.

Examples of how a HIP can help make changes for the better:

Create a healthy lifestyle by changing eating and exercise habits or learning relaxation skills, ways to sleep better and have good friends.

Reflect on harmful habits like using alcohol, tobacco and drugs or getting angry easily and hurting people’s feelings.

Cope with stress, including loss and sadness.

Apply self-care techniques to manage pain, diabetes, medications and other issues.