New Zealand’s Interim National Health Plan highlights the contribution of digital tools to enabling health systems to deliver more care to families and communities.
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority have jointly created an interim document outlining the various tasks to build a “unified, affordable and sustainable” health care system. We have created a new Te Pae Tata New Zealand Health Plan 2022.
Integrating digital technology into the health service delivery system is “an integral part of the transition to a single health system,” it said.
about it
One of the six priority actions in the interim Te Pae Tata is to “develop greater use of digital services” to provide more care in homes and communities.
The New Zealand government wants people to use digital tools to access and use health information, make appointments, receive phone and video consultations, and use devices to monitor their health at home. These tools include personal computers, smartphones, patient portals, and digitally-enabled clinical equipment for remote health monitoring.
“Access to health information, self-monitoring and remote monitoring will enable people, whanau and communities to better manage their own health and well-being,” the plan explains.
The plan also points to the need for digital tools to support healthcare workers. “A well-designed information system [administrative] We’ve eased the burden on staff, made the right information available at the right time and place, and made it easy to get up-to-date information.”
The following digital health actions have been identified to promote the use of digital tools:
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Internal operations by creating and implementing actions to provide national consistency of data and digital capabilities and solutions across Te Fatu Ora, including streamlining redundant legacy systems inherited from DHBs and shared services institutions improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.
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Implementing Hira, a user-friendly and integrated national electronic health record, to agreed levels to ensure the expected return on investment is achieved and to ensure project milestones are met Take all practicable steps.
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Scale and adapt population health digital services developed to support the response to COVID-19 and address other key population health priorities.
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Improve interoperability of data and digital systems across hospital networks and across primary, community, and secondary care settings.When
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Improving digital access to primary care as an option for improving access and choice. This includes virtual out-of-hours and telemedicine, with a focus on rural areas.
To take advantage of digital services, the government plans to “invest in the infrastructure needed to support healthcare automation, bringing systems and services online to meet demand and public expectations.” increase. Investments will also flow into improving efficiency and providing more digital health options for resolving operational and security risks.
the bigger trend
The launch of the Interim National Health Plan comes after the New Zealand Government consolidated 20 former local health boards into two public health services (Te Fatu Ora and Te aka Wai Ora).
Health Minister Andrew Little said of the announcement of the interim Te Pae Tata plan, “We are planning to integrate the public health system and now achieve national service coverage and a consistent operating policy across the country. standing.
In the 2022 Budget, the government invested NZ$11.1 billion ($6.5 billion) in health. Over NZ$600 million ($400 million) will be for healthcare system data and digital infrastructure and capabilities.
