South Island step closer to regional PAS

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Around 25,000,000 data items were migrated into the South Island’s regional patient administration system as part of the recent go-live at Health NZ – Te Whatu Ora Southern’s hospitals.

The South Island Patient Information Care System (SI PICS) is already in use in Nelson/Marlborough, Canterbury and South Canterbury and went live at Southern on November 25, 2023.

More than three years of patient and event information was brought over from the old system.

Karl Rivett, Te Waipounamu planning and delivery manager, integration and delivery, says the new system will streamline and integrate clinical and administrative functions across the South Island, making it easier to provide quality care for patients.

“The system allows us to manage patient appointments, waiting lists, admissions/discharges/transfers through one centralised system, creating a better patient experience,” he says.

“Introducing SI PICS has been a large digital undertaking for the project team of 35 at its peak and for our staff as they get used to a new system.”

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The project involved migrating 25,000,000 data items into the new system, preparing SI PICS resources and training guides, and delivering training sessions for SI PICS champions and about 3000 Southern staff to help them learn the new system.

“Naturally, with any new system there are teething problems, but we have a dedicated support team in place to resolve any issues and continue to work with our staff as we continue to transition to our new system,” he says.

Rivett adds that SI PICS is an evolving product with enhancements being released to improve functionality.

“We are three months into implementing this system, and it has been a significant undertaking,” he says.

Provided by Orion Health, SI PICS will be implemented on the West Coast next year.

Niru Rajakumar, Orion Health VP APAC, says the go-live at Southern is a key milestone.

“SIPICS is a great example of regionally-led innovation and collaboration with Orion Health - which is also ready and able to scale up. It will help more coordinated, consistent access to information, resulting in improved patient safety and better quality healthcare services across Te Waipounamu,” he says.

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