Ashwin Patel: Clinical Informatics Award 2024 finalist

eHealthNews.nz: Clinical Informatics

Ashwin Patel: Clinical Informatics Award 2024 finalist

Sunday, 27 October 2024

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PROFILE - Ashwin Patel, managing director, MyPractice

Judges comment
“Ashwin embodies clinical leadership with his work and initiatives impacting a significant number of national organisations and large numbers of patients. His most recent innovation combines his knowledge of primary health, health IT, and emerging technology to support practitioners in the high pressure primary care sector to save time and work more effectively for patients.”

Nominator’s quote
“The combination of being a GP, understanding of primary healthcare, his health IT expertise, enormous work ethic and genuine desire to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders, has benefitted the primary health sector workforce and many many patients.”

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Profile
Ashwin Patel is a GP and highly respected leader in primary healthcare IT, with 30 years’ experience dedicated to transforming New Zealand’s healthcare landscape.

His contributions to various organisations, including Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), the Royal College of General Practitioners, and IT standards bodies, have significantly shaped the field. Ashwin’s expertise is regularly sought and by, and given freely, to the Ministry of Health and Health NZ Te Whatu Ora, as a trusted advisor on primary healthcare IT matters.

Ashwin’s expertise has contributed to the development of crucial healthcare IT initiatives, such as e-Referrals, e-Prescribing, and GP2GP systems. His deep understanding of primary healthcare, combined with his technical expertise and commitment to improving health outcomes, has benefited countless patients and healthcare providers across the country.

His dedication to improving healthcare IT has positively impacted the primary health sector workforce and enhanced healthcare outcomes for patients and communities across New Zealand.

Technology to enhance patient care
Ashwin is managing director of MyPractice, a widely used practice management software that supports around 15 percent of general practices in New Zealand.

He has also worked to develop Health365, a patient portal accessed by over 350,000 New Zealanders, which empowers patients to access their health information and engage actively in their care.

Recently, Ashwin developed "Second Opinion," a tool that leverages artificial intelligence to assist general practitioners during consultations. This solution provides GPs with a second opinion on consultation notes, interprets complex lab results, and helps create high-quality referral letters.

This game changing tool exemplifies Ashwin's commitment to using technology to enhance patient care and support healthcare professionals.

Clinical leadership
Ashwin’s clinical leadership is evident not only in his technical innovations but also in his service as chairman of a PHO and numerous committees within the primary healthcare sector. As a practicing GP who runs two medical centres, Ashwin brings a unique perspective that combines clinical insight with a profound understanding of healthcare IT.

He has generously provided his expertise to various health IT providers, often at no cost, demonstrating his dedication to advancing the field for the benefit of all New Zealanders.