24/7 digital health service roll-out unaffected by SDHR delay

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

The delayed go-live of the Shared Digital Health Record until December will not affect the roll-out of the 24/7 digital health service in July, with telehealth providers accessing existing shared record services, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has confirmed.

The SDHR had been due to go-live with a Minimum Viable Product at the end of June, enabling telehealth clinicians to see basic health information, such as allergies and current medications, for the people they are seeing online. This has now been delayed until December.

Jason Power, acting national director – Planning, Funding & Outcomes, Health NZ, confirms that the 24/7 digital services providers will access existing regional Shared Electronic Health Records (SEHR) systems while the roll-out continues.

There are a number of SEHRs already available to clinicians, such as HealthOne in the South Island and YourHealthSummary in Auckland.

“These platforms are currently supporting the 24/7 service and care continuity across the health system where they are available. We are progressively moving to more complete coverage of these SEHR platforms via the SDHR project,” says Power.

Power says many of the telehealth providers involved in the 24/7 service already deliver an online GP service, so have experience in delivering safe healthcare using digital channels.

eHealthNews reported in May that eight providers were live with a ‘soft launch’ of the service to test the new functionality.

Three weeks ago Tend Health announced online that it was launching a 24/7 service, saying “from today, anyone in Aotearoa - enrolled or casual - can see a NZ-qualified doctor anytime, anywhere through the Tend app”.

The aim at Health NZ was to create a webpage with a list of approved 24/7 digital providers, directing patients to then accessing appointments directly via the provider websites.

However, eHealthNews understands work on this landing page for patients is currently paused, and that there will be a review of the service before a publicity campaign and full roll-out in July, when other providers will be invited to onboard.

Power says the 24/7 digital health service is designed for when people cannot access their usual GP or primary care team for a timely GP consult.

Where appropriate these healthcare professionals will assess, diagnose, treat and deliver health advice for people via online video consultations.

“Having current health information about an individual aids the clinician conducting the consult and reduces the amount of “repeat” questioning asked of the patient,” says Power.

“To enable this, we are also working with the general practice sector to explore safe information sharing through a SDHR to support continuity of care for patients using the 24/7 service.”

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