Digital solutions key to reducing demand this winter

eHealthNews.nz: National Systems & Strategy

Digital solutions key to reducing demand this winter

Monday, 15 May 2023

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NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

A number of data and digital health initiatives, such as telehealth and remote patient monitoring, will be scaled up as part of the 2023 Winter Plan, led by Te Whatu Ora.

Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall has announced 24 initiatives to help reduce hospital demand this winter, with all either in place or due to start in May or June.

These include ‘Hospital in the home’ services, telehealth support for primary care, ambulance and paramedics, and the rapid national data automation project.

“This winter, a reformed health system is allowing us to identify successful local programmes and scale them across the country, tailoring any health care approach to meet unique needs,” Verrall says.

A key focus of the health reforms is on bringing care closer to home to make it more convenient for patients.

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One initiative is ‘using telehealth to support primary care’, with the aim of increasing access to, and reducing pressure on, primary care services in rural communities, Māori and Pacific general practices.

Another is ‘clinical telehealth support for ambulance and paramedics’, in order to reduce congestion at Emergency Departments by supporting ambulance staff to treat patients at the scene.

Whakarongorau – NZ Telehealth Service currently provides telehealth support to ambulance crews to help keep patients safely at home.

A ‘remote patient monitoring (RPM) prototype’ is due to go-live in Te Tai Tokerau Northland for patients in remote Māori communities.

Some South Auckland Covid-19 patients have already been monitored in the community using a wearable device, in an RPM trial at Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Counties Manukau.

Remote patient monitoring is also being trialled in South Canterbury, which is looking at avoiding presentations at the ED and admissions to hospital for high-risk older people living in the community.

A wearable device sticks on a person’s chest and monitors a range of clinical parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, skin temperature and activity level.

A further initiative is expansion of community radiology services to allow people to be referred by GPs directly to public or private x-ray and other imaging services without having to coordinate with hospitals.

A GPMRI service is being enabled by technology as part of an ACC innovation and was trialled with ProCare and Mercy Radiology before being rolled out nationwide.

Boosting virtual medical and nursing support for aged residential care providers is included as part of the initiatives, as well as a national communications campaign to ensure people know how to access the variety of healthcare options - including virtually and over the phone.

Te Whatu Ora will expand ‘Hospital in the home’ programmes to provide care in patients’ homes enabled by virtual monitoring and consultation, as well as in-person visits. The aim is to prevent hospital admissions among vulnerable groups, and speed-up hospital discharge.

eHealthNews reported in December 2021 that Auckland hospitals were operating a Hospital in the Home programme for Covid-19 patients, keeping whole wards full of people out of hospital.

Other areas identified in the plan to get Hospital in the home are Te Tai Tokerau, Tauranga, Mid Central, Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill

The Rapid national data automation project will also provide healthcare leaders at regional and national level with real-time access to hospital information to help manage pressures and coordinate responses.