All definitions

health practitioner

A health practitioner is a person who is registered with an authority as a practitioner of a particular health profession under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. All health practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

MSD may require information from a registered health practitioner to help determine a person's eligibility for some types of financial assistance.

Note unless specifically mentioned otherwise, most medical certificates must be completed by medical practitioners and nurse practitioners.

The full list of health practitioners includes:

These professions are recognised through registration with the appropriate authority under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 for their scope of practice.

Legislation

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A midwife is a health practitioner who is registered with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand and trained to provide necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period up to 6 weeks, to facilitate births and to provide care for the newborn.

Midwives can only sign medical certificates for pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions within the range of the midwives' profession.

This includes signing medical certificates for complications ...

A psychologist is a health practitioner who is registered under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 and with the New Zealand Psychologists Board. Psychologists are concerned with the study of behaviour.

Psychologists must be listed on the New Zealand Psychologists Board's Register and hold a current practising certificate.

Psychology is a broad field of practice and research which applies psychological principles to:

A pharmacist is a health practitioner who is registered with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand and holds a current Annual Practising Certificate.

Pharmacists are trained to advise people on how medicines and pharmaceutical products may contribute to their health and well-being.

They may also prepare, dispense, and monitor the safe use of prescription and non-prescription medicine therapies and therapeutic aids.

A physiotherapist is a health practitioner who is registered with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand and holds a current Annual Practising Certificate.

Physiotherapists are trained to treat people in restoring muscle function.

Physical therapists evaluate and treat those with musculoskeletal disorders, neurological dysfunctions and those with other types of health condition, injury or illness.

They co-ordinate treatment plans with health practitioners, doctors, nurses, social workers and occupational therapists.

A chiropractor is a health practitioner who registered with the New Zealand Chiropractic Board and specialises in detecting and correcting by manual or mechanical means structural imbalance, distortion or subluxations in the human body for the purpose of removing nerve interference.

They use joint adjustments to correct structural or mechanical imbalances.

An osteopath is a health practitioner who is registered with the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand. Osteopathy is based on the belief that the body is able to rectify itself against toxic conditions when it has favourable environmental circumstances and satisfactory nourishment.

A wide variety of treatment techniques are used, which could include manipulation and mobilisation to joints and soft tissues, muscle energy stretches, and cranial-sacral therapy.

A medical practitioner is commonly referred to as a doctor. Medical practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand as practitioners of the profession of medicine and hold a current practising certificate.

All medical practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Medical practitioners don't need to have completed their training in New Zealand but must be registered with the New Zealand ...

Nurse practitioners are health practitioners who are registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and hold a current annual practising certificate.

Nurse practitioners are expert or specialist nurses with advanced education, clinical training and experience. They have demonstrated clinical competence and have the legal authority to practice as independent healthcare providers.

All nurse practitioners have a unique identifying number called a Health Practitioners Index number (HPI number).

Some nurse practitioners have specialised ...

An optometrist is a health practitioner who specialises in vision care and is trained to detect, measure and correct vision problems.

A dentist or dental practitioner is a health practitioner who is registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand and cares for any disease, disorder or condition of the teeth and associated structures.

Dentists can only sign medical certificates for conditions that have occurred because of dental work or dental conditions.

An occupational therapist is health practitioner who is registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand and trained to help people manage the daily activities of living, such as dressing, grooming or cooking, and regaining vocational skills.

They work with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling.