Smart tech rolled out for New Dunedin Hospital

SECTOR UPDATE - Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora 

New digital technology that will support the New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building is being rolled out ahead of the facility opening next year.   

A Digital Health Design Lab has been set up on Cumberland Street, across from the new outpatient building, where Health New Zealand teams are fine-tuning the digital systems that will be used in the new hospital. 

New Dunedin Hospital Digital Programme Director Phil Baskerville says the new technology is being developed in real time and will improve the patient experience in the new hospital. 

“The lab is fully equipped with one of every type of digital device that is going into the outpatient building, allowing teams to validate some of the new models of care and make sure everything works well in real-life situations before commissioning begins.” 

What’s Coming to the New Hospital? 

The hospital will feature modern technology designed to make healthcare more efficient and user-friendly. Some of the key upgrades include: 

• Smarter scheduling: A new digital booking system and patient SMS/email system that will replace the current mix of letters, spreadsheets, whiteboards, and paper forms. 
• Digital signage and wayfinding: Screens and devices will help patients and visitors find their way around the hospital. 
• Patient journey boards: These will show real-time updates on appointments, clinic locations, and patient flow. 

The new scheduling system for clinical use is being rolled out early, so staff can make use of it before the hospital opens. It will feed information directly to the patient journey boards, helping staff manage appointments and clinic flow more smoothly. 

“These tools will make communication faster and clearer across the hospital,” Baskerville says. 

Less Paper, More Time for Patients

One major change is the move away from paper-based documentation. Going digital will lead to greater accuracy and provide faster access to critical information, as well as reducing admin work for staff.  

A Model for Future Hospitals 

The digital systems being tested in Dunedin will also help guide digital upgrades to other hospitals across the country like Nelson and Whangārei as part of the Regional Hospital Redevelopment Programme. 

Funding Snapshot 

• $225.5 million was allocated in Budget 2022 for the New Dunedin Hospital’s digital programme
• $82.4 million is already committed to the Outpatient Building
• The rest is set aside for future work in the Inpatient Building
  

Source: Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora media release

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