Joanne Rothbaum​

Health Improvement Practitioner, Te Awakairangi Health Network, Upper Hutt, Wellington, NZ

Jo is a Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) for Te Awakairangi Health Network in Lower Hutt for two GP practices.   Working as a HIP for the last 3.5 years. She graduated with a diploma in Occupational Therapy in 1992 and gained a number of post graduate papers in ergonomics and work rehabilitation, until completing a Post Grad Cert in Pain Management at Otago University 2022. 

​Jo has worked in leadership roles for various insurance providers in pain and vocational management and had a stint as team lead for the Hutt Hospital pain programme. In addition to working as a HIP, Jo works privately as a supervisor for Occupational Therapists. Jo has published in OT Insight about her work with pain groups in primary care and has been working on a pain education group programme for all HIPs to use in her role.

Jo is an enthusiastic chorister with Festival Singers, is a not-in-recovery fabric and yarn addict, loves the NZ bush and gets into it as often as possible.

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HIPs & Health Coaches in Pain Management

This presentation offers first-hand insights on integrating patient-centred pain management into primary care and community management.

Jo will explore the evolution of access and choice in pain management, her role as generalist in clinical practice, and how roles like hers contribute to supporting patients living with pain.
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Iris will be sharing her journey with pain coaching, a personal project and key part of her academic path aimed at improving pain care in the community through collaboration with primary care providers.

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