Health screening for people with intellectual disability: the New Zealand experience

People with intellectual disability have considerable health needs and vari able health care. The introduction of annual health screens for IHC residen ts in New Zealand resulted in some 73% of screened people requiring follow- up interventions. The introduction of the health screens raised a number of issues for management, staff, health professionals and clients who might s ubsequently be involved in an exercise of this type and magnitude. The impo rtance of applying principles of management promoted by proponents of total quality management has been apparent throughout the whole exercise.