Australian patient experience provider Five Faces has deployed a Patient Check-In and Queueing solution for ambulatory care appointments at Peninsula University Hospital in Frankston, Melbourne.

Commissioned by the new hospital’s builder, Lendlease, the system aims to improve the patient experience and flow for pre-booked hospital appointments for outpatient care and check-in on the day of surgery.

Patients use their mobile device to access a Patient Hub that guides their journey before, during and after their outpatient appointment. This includes viewing and managing appointments, receiving information and resources, completing digital forms, using secure messaging, checking in, and completing surveys.

The solution is designed to address patient needs related to accessibility, cultural and language differences, and digital skills. For example, checking in to an appointment can occur via mobile, a multi-lingual kiosk, or with staff assistance.

Administration and clinical staff gain workflow efficiencies and real-time visibility of patient status on the day of the appointment.

The $1.1 billion project was delivered in January 2026 by the Victorian Government as a public private partnership. Peninsula University Hospital will remain as a public hospital with all clinical services operated by Bayside Health. Other facilities on the hospital campus have implemented a similar Patient Check-In and Queue Management solution from Five Faces as Phase 1 of the overall project, supporting multiple specialist areas across the Peninsula University Hospital site, including Women’s and Children’s, Orthopaedics, Oncology, and the Frankston Public Surgical Centre.

“This dynamic digital solution is helping to improve the overall journey for our patients,” said Paul Butler, Executive Director, Strategy, Capital and Digital at Bayside Health Peninsula. “We are delighted that this cutting-edge facility is matched by equally modern, seamless technology that meets the needs and expectations of our patients.” 

“We are delighted to modernise the patient experience for the new and existing facility in Frankston,” said Nicole Nixon, CEO of Five Faces. “Patients now expect a digital-first approach that not only gives them more control over their journey, but also keeps them informed every step of the way. Whether it’s managing appointments, understanding next steps, or receiving updates on expected wait time, they want clear communication and transparency. At the same time, staff benefit from reducing the burden of manual administration, making it a win-win situation for both patients and healthcare providers.”

Source: Five Faces media release

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Brisbane, Australia – Rauland Australia and New Zealand, a leading digital health solutions company, today launches a new dedicated aged care platform Concentric Care Unify. The Unify platform is specifically designed to unify messaging, alerts and analytics into one central place simplifying communication, workflows and reporting for residential aged care providers. Introducing first at the ITAC 2026 conference in Brisbane, Australia; the solution directly addresses one of the sector’s most persistent operational challenges: fragmentation.

Concentric Care Unify has been purpose-built to resolve this complexity. By bringing critical workflows into a single, intelligent platform, it enables providers to streamline operations, strengthen governance and empower care teams with timely, actionable information.

“Providers don’t need more technology, they need better-connected technology,” said Jessica Poy, General
Manager – Aged Care, Rauland Australia and New Zealand. “Concentric Care Unify removes the friction caused by multiple fragmented, standalone systems and replaces it with a unified, intuitive platform that supports faster decision-making, reduces administrative burden and enables staff to focus on what matters most - delivering quality care.”

At the heart of the platform is an advanced messaging engine that intelligently routes alerts, manages escalation pathways and enables multi-channel communication across mobile devices, wearables and on-site systems. This is complemented by a powerful analytics layer, delivering real-time dashboards, cross-site visibility and compliance-ready reporting.

The platform is designed to deliver measurable impact across key operational areas:

• Improved response times, with alerts directed to the right staff at the right time
• Reduced manual processes, through automation and standardised workflows
• Greater organisational visibility, including multi-site benchmarking and performance insights
• Enhanced resident experience, supporting quieter, more home-like environments
• Stronger compliance and audit readiness, underpinned by consistent, traceable data
  

Importantly, Concentric Care Unify is built on an open, interoperable architecture, enabling seamless integration with existing nurse call systems and broader facility infrastructure. This ensures providers can extend the value of their current technology investments while modernising their operational backbone.

For multi-site healthcare providers, having all their existing systems connected and visible through one central platform can been a game-changer - for staff and for the residents in their care. One of such providers who has experienced the benefits of Rauland’s aged care solutions is Apollo Care Alliance. “Our objective was to integrate technology in a way that streamlines the way staff work and optimise care outcomes for residents. Rauland’s solution has delivered on both, improving safety and reporting along the way,” said Kylie Radburn, Chief Governance Officer, Apollo Care Alliance.

“Concentric Care Unify reflects our long-term commitment to innovation that is both practical and impactful,” said Jacqueline Leeds, CEO, Rauland Australia and New Zealand. “The platform is not simply about connecting systems, it’s about enabling a more responsive, resilient and insight-driven model of care. We are equipping providers with the tools they need to meet today’s demands while preparing for the future of aged care.”

Delivered as a fully managed, cloud-hosted solution, the platform is scalable across multi-site operations and supported by Rauland’s local implementation, training and service teams.

Aged care providers attending ITAC 2026 are invited to experience Concentric Care Unify firsthand at booth 57 and explore how intelligent integration can transform aged care delivery.

Source: Rauland Australia and New Zealand media release

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The General Practice Owners Association (GenPro) welcomes the final approval from Te Whatu Ora to establish thePHO, marking a major step forward for a more streamlined, patient-focused primary care system in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Source: General Practice Owners’ Association media release

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A major new survey of health professionals has confirmed what the PSA has been saying for more than a year: the Government's reckless cuts to digital services are destroying confidence in the health system's ability to deliver safe, modern care.

The Korero Mai report from Health Informatics NZ, based on conversations with more than 200 clinicians, administrators, technologists and other experts, found trust in digital health transformation is eroding because the workforce is exhausted by change that repeatedly fails to deliver.

"This is a damning indictment of the Government's approach to health IT. The health workers on the frontline are tired of being promised transformation only to watch systems get mothballed, budgets slashed and the experts who maintain critical infrastructure shown the door," said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

"This ultimately impacts patient care which is what we have been warning all along. You can’t slash Health NZ’s Digital Services workforce and still expect clinicians to deliver the safe and timely health care 24/7 that patients need."

The Digital Services workforce has been reduced by nearly 1000 roles by the Coalition Government with $100m slashed from its budget.

The report lays out the concerns of health workers loud and clear.

‘Participants stressed that digital transformation is not a cost-saving exercise in the short term but requires sustained investment in people: This involves training, change management and roles dedicated to making systems work in practice,’ the report says. It notes reductions in digital service roles have left fewer people available to train, support and optimise systems.

"The Government ignored every warning. Now we have repeated outages across the country, hospitals reduced to whiteboards and paper forms during outages, and a workforce that has lost faith the system will ever be properly resourced.

"This survey confirms what digital services experts have been telling us. The problem is not skills. Health workers have the capability to use modern systems. The problem is that systems keep being pulled out from under them, budgets keep being cut and the people who keep things running keep being made redundant."

"The Government cannot announce a 10-year digital health investment plan on one hand and gut the workforce needed to deliver it with the other. You can't modernise a health system on the cheap.

"Documents the PSA obtained under the OIA showed Health NZ knew last year that cutting digital roles would increase risks to patient care and hospital resilience. That internal assessment warned risks would become unsustainable as technical debt mounted. The outages that followed proved it.

"They were the predictable consequence of a government that chose tax cuts for landlords over functioning hospital systems.

"Our members who work in health IT are dedicated professionals who have been keeping an ageing, fragile patchwork of systems running against the odds. They deserve investment and support, not redundancy notices.

"The Government needs to stop pretending it can cut its way to a modern health system. It must reverse the damage, rebuild the digital workforce and properly fund the infrastructure New Zealanders' lives depend on."

Source: PSA media release

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The Shared Digital Health Record team recently undertook a ‘pulse check’ of people’s views on information sharing.

Digital Services Portfolio Group Manager – Digital Enablers, Heath Tolley, says feedback from consumer channels, early adopter practices and PHOs indicated a slight increase in public hesitation about information sharing, following recent cyber security incidents.

“This was reflected in a small rise in calls in January to our contact centre and general practices requesting to block information sharing. Despite this, Shared Digital Health Record opt-out levels remain within our expected range of 1–2%.”

He says the team also recently conducted a consumer survey to gather feedback on a brochure currently in development.

“As part of this, we asked people whether they were aware of a recent cybersecurity incident and whether it had affected their trust in health information sharing.”

Findings showed:

• 72% of respondents were aware of a recent health information breach in New Zealand
• Among those aware: 
  • 21% said it had a significant impact on their trust in health information sharing
  • 60% said it had a moderate impact.

Despite this, 83% of respondents said they were comfortable sharing their information via the Shared Digital Health Record to support their care.

Heath emphasises that protecting health information is a top priority, with multiple layers of security in place to keep Shared Digital Health Record data secure.

“The technical design of the Shared Digital Health Record supports security features, such as encryption at rest and in transit, access management capabilities, and is subject to security review prior to being given an authority to operate.”

• Access to data is controlled through secure APIs managed via Health NZ’s Digital Services Hub.
• The database is hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and independently tested to ensure compliance with the Health Information Security Framework, the New Zealand Information Security Manual (NZISM), and Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) guidelines.
• Authentication and authorisation are managed through the Health NZ Connector Plane, which applies security policies to all requests and includes robust logging and auditing of all access to health records.

“Practice management systems and shared electronic health records must also demonstrate strong security controls and standards before they can integrate with the Shared Digital Health Record,” he says.

There is more information about the Shared Digital Health Record on the Health NZ webpages.
 
Webinar link available: Learn about taking part in the Shared Digital Health Record

On 25 March, a webinar was held for primary care to learn about how the Shared Digital Health Record data service works and how to onboard to the service. The link is now available on the Health NZ website.

Source: Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora media release

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Kia ora New Zealand, Medtech AI Educational Labs are coming to a town near you.

We’re taking Medtech AI on the road with 12+ locations across Aotearoa and FREE registration for clinicians and practice teams.

We’re hitting the road and we want to see you there. Medtech AI is coming to 12+ locations across Aotearoa in a nationwide roadshow designed specifically for clinicians and practice teams, and the best part? Registration is completely free. Each stop features a hands-on education lab where we’ll kick things off with a short presentation before opening up our live demo environment so you can get in and experience it for yourself. Test real workflows, role-play clinical scenarios, and see firsthand how Medtech AI fits into the way your practice actually works. No slides-only sessions, no passive watching just you, your team, and the tools that are reshaping healthcare delivery across New Zealand.

Whether you’re exploring how AI could fit into your clinical workflow, or you want to see it in action before committing, this is the ideal next step.

North Island

Auckland Central | 7 April 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-auckland-central-tickets-1985976324648?aff=oddtdtcreator

Auckland North Shore | 8 April 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-auckland-north-shore-tickets-1985976851223?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hamilton | 21 April 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-hamilton-tickets-1985686070490?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tauranga | 22 April 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-tauranga-tickets-1985686940091?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hastings | 23 April 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-hastings-tickets-1985687218925?aff=oddtdtcreator

New Plymouth | 5 May 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-new-plymouth-tickets-1985688039379?aff=oddtdtcreator

Auckland South | 6 May 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-auckland-south-tickets-1986036199736?aff=oddtdtcreator

Whangārei | 7 May 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-whangarei-tickets-1985881336536?aff=oddtdtcreator

Nelson | 12 May 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-nelson-tickets-1985688426537?aff=oddtdtcreator

Wellington | 14 May 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-wellington-tickets-1985964299681?aff=oddtdtcreator

South Island

Dunedin | 28 April 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-dunedin-tickets-1985882389686?aff=oddtdtcreator

Invercargill | 29 April 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-invercargill-tickets-1985882578250?aff=oddtdtcreator

Cromwell | 30 April 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-cromwell-tickets-1985882611349?aff=oddtdtcreator

Christchurch North | 19 May 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-christchurch-tickets-1985880263326?aff=oddtdtcreator

Christchurch Central | 13 May 2026
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medtech-ai-hands-on-educational-lab-christchurch-tickets-1985689314192?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please register and purchase your tickets through our Eventbrite page. As these are small-group, hands‑on workshops, we ask that you only secure a ticket if you’re committed to attending. We can’t wait to see you soon!

Source: Medtech Global media release

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More people than ever are benefiting from timely access to the health care they need, latest health targets figures confirm.

Quarter two performance results released today (October - December 2025) showed solid improvements over the same time a year ago, with more patients accessing care sooner:

• Shorter waits for elective treatment – 64.5 per cent within four months, up from 59.2 per cent last year.
• Shorter stays in emergency departments – 74.2 per cent admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours, up from 72.1 per cent last year.
• Shorter waits for first specialist assessment – 62.2 per cent within four months, up from 60.6 per cent last year.
• Faster cancer treatment – 87 per cent to receive cancer management within 31 days of the decision to treat, up from 85.9 per cent last year.
• Improved child immunisation – 82.9 per cent fully immunised at 24 months, up from 77 per cent last year.

Since peaking in January - February 2025, our waiting lists are now also reducing for the first time in many years, positively impacting the lives of people across the country. 

While there is still much more to do, the latest figures demonstrate the progress being made as Health NZ settles as an organisation, with a strong focus on lifting patient outcomes.

The improved results were achieved despite challenges that included disruption to planned care and appointments, a widespread measles outbreak and high late winter demand on our emergency departments.

I thank all those who work with and for Health NZ for their hard work to deliver these gains for our patients, their families, and our communities.

We acknowledge we need to see further improvements - but we are on the right track and the lift in outcomes we are seeing is very encouraging.

Source: Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora media release

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A national program designed to make it faster and easier for digital health organisations to connect to Australia’s digital health systems has been launched by the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency). Health services, software developers and vendors will benefit from improved tools and clarity to accelerate the delivery of secure, innovative digital health solutions.

As part of these enhancements the Agency’s Developer Portal will be renamed the Digital Health Implementer Hub reflecting the breadth of organisations connecting with national digital health infrastructure.

Agency CEO Amanda Cattermole PSM said the Agency was committed to making it simpler to connect to national digital health systems with the expectation that it will improve health outcomes for all Australians.

“The Agency has worked to reduce barriers, improve transparency and create a more efficient environment for implementers so that truly connected care can become a reality,” Ms Cattermole said.

“Enhancements for the Implementer Hub include a personalised case management system, dynamic smart forms, and a dedicated dashboard that streamlines enquiries, reduces complexity and provides clear visibility of progress and upcoming requirements.”

Conformance is a core responsibility of the Agency and is how assurance is provided to health services and Australian healthcare consumers that software connecting to national infrastructure is clinically safe, secure and complies with interoperability requirements like digital health standards.

Agency Chief Digital Officer Peter O’Halloran said a built-in conformance engine converts technical documentation into tailored requirements, use cases and test cases, guiding every implementer through the conformance journey.

“Our long-term goal is to reduce the processing time by the Agency for software conformance to a month, within the next few years. This will enable faster delivery of new features and improvements, benefiting both healthcare professionals and consumers,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“The design of the Implementer Hub draws on comprehensive consultation with software developers, vendors, clinical stakeholders and industry representatives, ensuring it addresses realworld needs and aligns with leading industry standards.”

Global health technology company Magentus brought deep integration experience in piloting the enhancements to the Implementer Hub. A spokesperson for Magentus said:

The Implementer Hub now makes compliance far more straightforward, guiding users step by step through national requirements. Features like interactive task management, dynamic smart forms, clear scoping support, and integrated document uploads reduce complexity and improve transparency. With a centralised notes history and better version awareness across conformance profiles, the process is faster, clearer, and easier to manage. These enhancements save time and help us deliver interoperable innovations to the health system more quickly - without compromising on compliance or quality.

The next stage of enhancements will include functionality for Electronic Prescribing, re-conformance processes, Healthcare Information Provider Service and more in mid-2026.

For further details and access to technical resources, guides, and support materials, visit the Implementer Hub.

Source: Australian Digital Health Agency media release

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Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ) has announced a new chapter in its governance, welcoming a new board chair, deputy chair and three additional board members while acknowledging the significant contribution of several outgoing leaders.

Natasha Prendergast has stepped into the role of HiNZ board chair, with Niru Rajakumarappointed as deputy chair. 

They are joined by new board members Ann Browett, Rowena Woolgar and Mark Dingle, who take up their roles as the organisation continues to evolve and strengthen its role in advancing digital health across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Prendergast says HiNZ is entering an exciting phase of development.

“HiNZ is building new partnerships, changing how we work, and deepening our reach across the digital health community. There is a lot of good work already in motion, and a clear sense of direction, and I am truly excited to lead the organisation during this next phase,” she says.

As part of the leadership transition, HiNZ recognises the outstanding contribution of outgoing board members Kyle Forde, Mark Shirley and Jono Hoogerbrug, who played a significant role in strengthening the organisation and helping shape its future direction.

Prendergast says as chair and deputy chair, Forde and Shirley were instrumental in supporting her own development as a board member, offering encouragement and guidance along the way.

HiNZ chief executive Alex Kemp says the outgoing board has laid strong foundations for the organisation’s future.

“Good boards set foundations that enable future growth, and that is the legacy this outgoing leadership leaves. We are grateful for what’s been built, and we are ready for what comes next,” she says

More information about the HiNZ board is available at: https://www.hinz.org.nz/page/HiNZBoard.

Source: HiNZ media release

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Medical professionals using the Shexie practice management software system can now add a new state-of-the-art address validation tool to the SaaS platform’s capabilities. This will help ensure their practices comply with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) obligations around privacy of patient information. 

The Shexie platform, first launched in 1994, is currently used by more than 700 small to large specialist medical practices across Australia and provides an easy-to-use system for capturing and managing patient appointments, billing, and contact details. 

The Shexie system can now integrate instantly with Intech Solutions' market-leading IQ Office API for address validation through the new Address Validation Starter Pack available as a value-add subscription for all Shexie users.

“Challenges often faced by medical practices include incorrect patient, doctor and organisation addresses, resulting in claim rejections, which leads to lost time and delayed payments. What’s more, fixing such errors manually can be frustrating and costly,” says Philip Miles, Strategic Account Executive for Intech Solutions in Australia. 

“IQ Office works in real-time to validate data entry of addresses irrespective of misspellings, use of vanity addresses, erroneous or missing postcodes and other data entry errors,” he says. 

“With Intech’s Address Validation tool, you can instantly check and remediate patient, doctor and organisation addresses as you enter them in the Shexie system. This ensures you have clean, accurate data for regular processes such as prescriptions, Medicare Australia applications and health fund submissions.

“Having clean addresses mean you receive fewer rejections and faster payments, which reduces your admin time and promotes claims success, improving both your productivity and the patient’s experience, while also ensuring compliance with OAIC obligations,” says Miles. 

The OAIC states that under the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) organisations ‘must take reasonable steps to ensure personal information they collect, use, or disclose is accurate, up to date, and complete’.

“In other words, data quality is not just good business, it’s an obligation,” says Miles. 

“Users of Shexie Platinum love the ease of searching for the most complex address structures, and finding a match every time,” says Randal Halligan Director of Shexie.

Shexie is a practice management provider for a wide range of medical professionals, from physicians and surgeons to anaesthetists and diagnosticians and day surgeries. 

The validation system is designed to be easy to implement and use, with no special technical skill required, and minimal burden on current practice management system. The system is also Privacy Act compliant, with no data stored or captured by the system, and supports Australian users.

Practices can test the service with a 30-day free trial before deciding to adopt it. Billing is then managed directly by Intech Solutions, with Shexie handling implementation.

Software developers working across the health sector are also welcome to contact Intech Solutions to discuss how they can integrate the IQ Office Address Validation tool into current and future software products under development.

For more information about Intech Solutions, visit: https://www.intechsolutions.com.au 

For more information about Shexie, visit: https://www.shexie.com.au

Source: Intech Solutions media release

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Healthpoint has launched a refreshed business website that brings together the organisation’s full suite of services supporting the health sector across Aotearoa New Zealand.

While many people know Healthpoint for its public Directory (www.healthpoint.co.nz), the new business website highlights the broader role the organisation plays in enabling trusted, structured health information across the system.

In addition to the Directory, Healthpoint provides digital infrastructure and sector tools including the Healthpoint API used by digital platforms, MEDINZ critical communications and emergency response planning through ERPT.

The refreshed website has been designed to better reflect Healthpoint’s work alongside public health services, private providers, telehealth services and Government partners to support connected, interoperable health information.

The public Healthpoint Directory remains unchanged.

The new business website can be explored at: https://healthpointltd.health/

Source: Healthpoint media release

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InterSystems, a creative data technology provider powering more than one billion health records globally, today announced the appointment of Tim Ferris, MD, as Vice President, Healthcare Practice.

In this role, Dr Ferris will leverage his comprehensive view of the industry to help drive the clinical and strategic direction of the company’s healthcare solutions worldwide. He will serve as a strategic advisor to global health systems and governments, engineer targeted technology solutions based on real-world executive needs, advance his academic research on health data architecture and lead public discourse on the intersection of AI and care delivery.

Dr Ferris brings a unique global perspective to InterSystems. His career spans 30 years as a practicing primary care physician, executive leadership at prestigious U.S. health systems, macro-level technology governance for the U.K. government and incubating AI health-tech startups.

“Tim Ferris has treated patients as a frontline physician, overseen thousands of physicians at one of the most respected hospital systems in the world, directed national health policy in the U.K. and incubated cutting-edge AI startups,” said Don Woodlock, President of InterSystems. “These experiences make him the perfect leader to help architect technology solutions that truly work for every stakeholder in the healthcare ecosystem.”

Most recently, Dr Ferris served as president of healthcare at Red Cell Partners, a technology incubator and investment firm. Previously, as the national director of transformation at England’s National Health Service (NHS), he managed a US$2.5 billion budget and led the acceleration of frontline digitisation. This included expanding the NHS App to serve more than 40 million citizens, migrating national data services to the cloud and facilitating data agreements with leading global tech and biotech companies.

Dr Ferris also served as CEO and chair of the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization and senior vice president for population health at Mass General Brigham. In those roles, he oversaw 3,000 physicians and led an accountable care organisation that achieved top national performance on quality metrics while generating over US$1 billion in cumulative cost savings for taxpayers.

A recognised leader in health IT and a Harvard-trained physician, Dr Ferris became a professor of medicine at Harvard University in 2018. He has authored more than 120 publications on quality measurement, health information technology and population health, and currently serves in an advisory role for Stanford University.

Source: InterSystems media release

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Cervin and Valentia Technologies today announced a collaboration to integrate their complementary platforms — SR Referrals and OctansCare — to create a seamless, intelligent pathway from referral to appointment across the New Zealand health system.

The collaboration brings together two of the sector’s leading health technology platforms: OctansCare, Valentia’s AI-powered patient booking and front-door platform, and SR Referrals, Cervin’s premier eReferrals platform. Together, they aim to eliminate the fragmentation that has long characterised the handoff between referral and booking — a gap that creates delays, increases administrative burden, and can affect patient outcomes.

"This collaboration is about connecting the intelligence of AI-driven booking with the depth and reach of our referral network. Together, OctansCare and SR can deliver a truly seamless journey for patients from the moment a referral is made to the moment an appointment is confirmed.” — Carmel Cervin, CEO, Cervin Limited

OctansCare: The AI Front Door for Healthcare

OctansCare, developed by Valentia Technologies, is an AI-powered platform that acts as an intelligent front door for healthcare. It handles patient communications and booking — streamlining patient interactions and reducing wait times and providers’ administrative overheads. OctansCare connects with all major Practice Management Systems in Primary Care and Allied Health.

SR Referrals: New Zealand’s Premier eReferrals Network

Cervin’s SR platform supports an extensive network spanning Primary and Specialist Care, Allied Health, Mental Health, and Community Services. Cervin maintains a comprehensive, live directory of providers built through direct relationships with services across the country. SR understands how different services handle referrals — and is responsive to their specific requirements.

In specialist areas such as Mental Health and Addiction Services, where referrals must be securely processed and triaged before a booking can occur, SR’s infrastructure provides the clinical rigour complimenting booking platforms.

Supporting a Connected Health System

By aligning SR’s referral infrastructure with OctansCare’s booking capabilities — building on existing integrations between SR and Valentia systems — the two companies are positioned to support health system modernisation efforts with the potential to deliver meaningful improvements for providers and patients.

“Valentia has long believed that booking and referral must work as one. Our collaboration with Cervin brings that vision to life — OctansCare’s AI capabilities, paired with SR’s network and clinical workflow expertise, opens the door to offering the health system a truly integrated solution at exactly the right moment.” — Malik Rizwan, Executive Lead, Virtual Care Strategy Valentia Technologies

Source: Valentia Technologies media release

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Australian patient experience software provider Five Faces has launched Patient Journey Support, a new solution designed to help health services guide patients through complex care – beginning with perioperative services.

For many patients, surgery begins long before the day they arrive at hospital. From the moment they join the waitlist, advice can be difficult to keep track of, communication is often inconsistent, and much of the coordination still relies on manual processes.

Patient Journey Support brings preparation, admission and recovery into one connected digital experience. Patients receive clear milestones and reminders, procedure-specific education, digital forms and consent, secure messaging, and personalised recovery plans, delivered at the right time.

Clinicians and administrators gain real-time visibility of patient readiness, tools to coordinate communication, and dashboards that reduce manual administration and support better theatre utilisation.

Five Faces has already modernised outpatient appointments and check-in for major health services in Australia, with implementations extending internationally. Patient Journey Support builds on that foundation, enhancing Five Faces’ established digital front door experience with new capabilities for surgical services.

At the centre of the solution is a Unified Patient Hub, a single place for patients to manage their care. Because the Hub is built on a consistent digital foundation, it can support surgical services alone or extend into other areas such as outpatients and diagnostics. 

A key point of difference is configurability. Health services can design and adapt journeys themselves, at a hospital level, for a specialty, or tailored to individual clinician requirements, reducing reliance on the vendor and supporting scalable rollout across departments and sites.

Nicole Nixon, CEO of Five Faces, said the launch reflects the need for more connected, patient-centred digital experiences in healthcare.

“Patients don’t experience their care in separate systems,” she said. “Perioperative services are often among the most fragmented parts of a hospital. Rather than digitising small pieces in isolation, we’ve taken a holistic approach, connecting preparation, surgery and recovery in one Patient Hub, integrated with core systems. Because it’s designed to scale, it can extend across other services over time. It’s about clarity for patients and better coordination for teams.”

The solution is led by Dr Cory Williams, Research and Clinical Lead at Five Faces, who brings more than a decade of experience in surgical and perioperative services across Australia’s public health system.

“If we want surgical services to keep pace with demand, we need more than short-term fixes like stretching operating hours,” he said. “We need more fundamental support for how care is coordinated:  clearer communication, better preparation, and visibility for teams. This isn’t about digitising paperwork. It’s about designing a better way for patients and clinicians to stay connected through complex care.”

While initially focused on perioperative care, Patient Journey Support can be adapted for other complex services, including multi-stage treatments and chronic disease programs.

Source: Five Faces media release

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Tonic Media Network, Australia’s largest health and wellbeing media network, has expanded into New Zealand and acquired MediBoard, creating a comprehensive point-of-care media platform that now reaches 8 million patient visits annually across GP clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres.

The combined network operates across nearly 50%* of GP clinics and all major hospitals throughout New Zealand’s North and South Islands, comprising 700 MediBoards and 125 digital screens. Content plays automatically, is updated centrally, and is produced by a dedicated local content team – with no burden on practice staff.

What it means for practices and patients

Tonic’s screens deliver short-form, evidence-based health content during the time patients are already waiting – an average of 15 minutes** – in a trusted clinical environment. Premium audio-enabled video content is designed to improve health literacy across a wide range of conditions, seasonal health topics, and preventive care messages.

Each hour, practices also receive a dedicated allocation of airtime to promote their own services – from opening hours and doctors currently on duty, to allied health offerings, vaccination programmes and seasonal care plans. It gives practices a simple, always-on channel to keep patients informed and prepared before they even enter the consultation room.

With 61% of viewers taking action and 45% message recall****, the platform is demonstrably effective at reinforcing the kinds of health behaviours GPs are already encouraging in the consultation room.

Content that reflects New Zealand’s communities

Tonic has built content partnerships with organisations including Healthify NZ, Asthma NZ, NZ Herpes Foundation, MetService and the Graeme Dingle Foundation, with a specific commitment to creating and distributing content that resonates with Māori, Pasifika and the many diverse communities across New Zealand.

A launch video series featuring Auckland-based GP Dr Jono Hoogerbrug – focusing on timely and relevant health topics – is now playing on Tonic screens across the country. Messaging can be tailored by region, language or cultural context.

“Tonic was built on a simple but powerful premise: improved health literacy leads to better health outcomes,” said Richard Silverton, CEO of Tonic Media Network. “We’ve proven the model in Australia, and now we’re pursuing that same mission in New Zealand – to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders.”

Established reach, enhanced by new capability

Tonic’s New Zealand expansion follows its August 2025 launch and the January 2026 acquisition of MediBoard, combining Tonic’s digital out-of-home (DOOH) screen network with MediBoard’s established print and digital infrastructure. MediBoard has long-standing relationships with clinics throughout New Zealand, built on trust and a shared commitment to patient wellbeing.

“MediBoard has built deep trust with clinics and communities throughout New Zealand,” said Paula Mooney, General Manager of MediBoard NZ. “Joining forces with Tonic allows us to enhance that service with world-class content, proven engagement and a mission that we share – improving health outcomes for all New Zealanders.”

Founded in 2013 by physician and medical broadcaster Dr Norman Swan, Tonic reaches over 15 million people each month in Australia*** through more than 6,200 digital and print assets across urban, regional and remote communities.

Source: Tonic Media Network media release

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The Digital Health Week Conference for 2026 will be held on 18-19 November at Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland with an exciting new look and feel.

Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ) and the Digital Health Association (DHA) are co-leading New Zealand's flagship digital health event in 2026, which is being redesigned to better serve the entire data and digital health ecosystem.

The two-day conference, scheduled for 18-19 November 2026, is the anchor event of Digital Health Week, now in its 23rd year.

Alex Kemp, chief executive of HiNZ, says the evolution of the conference is in response to feedback from attendees and sponsors about how the sector connects, learns and collaborates.

"We understand that it takes all parts of the community to have transformation and we want this to be an opportunity for them all to come together and understand the value and the knowledge each part brings," she says.

“There will be more opportunities to showcase that, more opportunities to connect, more opportunities to learn from each other and listen to each other.”

Stella Ward, chief executive of the DHA, says the partnership signals a deliberate shift towards inclusivity across all parts of New Zealand's health system.

"Healthcare delivery is done as part of an ecosystem and industry are a core part of the ecosystem," she says.

“If there is an expert who sits within industry then we want them to give them the same opportunity to share their expertise."

Both organisations have committed to making the event more accessible financially, with reduced ticket prices and new sponsorship models designed to enable broader participation from smaller organisations.

“We are excited to be collaborating on the 2026 conference and invite the community to help shape the programme by getting in touch with ideas for keynote speakers or topics they would like to see on stage,” Kemp says. 

Ward says that further details about the submission process, programme and pricing will be released in the coming weeks and months.

Have an idea for a speaker or topic you would like to see at DHW 2026? Get in touch via this online form.

Image: Alex Kemp, chief executive of HiNZ (left) and Stella Ward, chief executive of the DHA

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Dedalus ANZ, a leader in digital health across Australia and New Zealand, today announced the appointment of Dr. Vinod Seetharaman as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO), ANZ. 

Dr. Seetharaman brings 23 years of medical and leadership expertise, combining a strong foundation in medicine with deep expertise in healthcare digital transformation. He has previously worked with governments, public health agencies and provider networks across the Asia Pacific region, contributing to advancement in national interoperability initiatives, digital patient engagement platforms, personalised medicine, disease surveillance and population health. 

“Preventative care and timely decisions are as much about sustainable medicine as they are about upholding the trust patients put on us; and we have no choice but to innovate out of this predicament. I’m excited to join the Dedalus ANZ team at a time when there is palpable interest and intent across the healthcare ecosystem to transform care.” said Dr. Seetharaman. 

Dr. Seetharaman will work with healthcare providers, clinicians, and product development teams across Australia and New Zealand to ensure Dedalus ANZ’s solutions address regional healthcare challenges such as clinician time pressures, system integration, and patient access to timely care. 

Dr Seetharaman’s appointment underscores our commitment to partnering closely with clinicians and healthcare providers to ensure our solutions meet the real needs of the ANZ health system. His clinical experience and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to support our customers in improving connectivity, efficiency, and patient access across the region,” said Travis Stephenson, Managing Director, Dedalus ANZ. 

This appointment highlights Dedalus ANZ’s commitment to supporting the healthcare sector with innovative digital health solutions that free up clinician time, reduce paperwork, and deliver faster, safer care for patients. 

Source: Dedalus media release

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InterSystems, a creative data technology provider powering more than one billion health records globally, today announced it has received four Global 2026 Best in KLAS awards. The company earned a #1 ranking for Acute Care EHR in Asia, Oceania and France, as well as for Shared Care Records in Europe.

Best in KLAS is KLAS Research’s annual recognition of top-performing healthcare technology and services solutions, based entirely on feedback from healthcare provider organisations. Awards are given within defined software and services market segments evaluated by KLAS Research using a standardised methodology that reflects customer experience and performance. In addition to U.S. market segments, KLAS also recognises top-performing solutions through its Global (Non-U.S.) Best in KLAS Awards, which are based on feedback from healthcare organisations outside the United States and evaluated using the same research framework.

InterSystems was honoured with four 2026 Global Best in KLAS awards:

• InterSystems TrakCare® received three separate Best in KLAS designations for Acute Care EHR in France, Asia and Oceania, a rating that reflects strong feedback from healthcare organisations within each of these markets.
• Shared Care Records (Europe): InterSystems HealthShare® was recognised as Best in KLAS for Shared Care Records in Europe for the third consecutive year, following prior wins in 2024 and 2025, based on feedback from healthcare organisations across the region.

“At InterSystems, our mission has always been to build solutions as a joint effort with real end users on their real problems and opportunities in their world. Receiving four Best in KLAS awards is incredibly validating because these honours aren’t decided by a panel of judges – they come directly from the feedback of the clinicians and healthcare leaders who use our technology every day,” said Don Woodlock, President of InterSystems.

“The Best in KLAS awards recognise the vendors who consistently deliver excellence through partnership with healthcare organisations. Winning this award means customers trust you to help them succeed in our rapidly changing healthcare landscape. This means helping them to improve patient care, achieve better outcomes, and find true ROI. We’re honoured to amplify the voice of providers and payers at KLAS, and to celebrate those vendors who turn feedback into action,” said Adam Gale, CEO, KLAS Research.

The complete 2026 Best in KLAS Awards: Global Software Report can be found at https://klasresearch.com/report/2026-best-in-klas-awards-global-software/3907.

Source: InterSystems media release

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Working in conjunction with Oranga Tamariki, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated has developed a new programme to offer integrated support through a collective approach to addressing the disproportionate number of tamariki in state care in Te Matau-a-Māui (Hawke’s Bay).

The innovative programme, whereby cases are triaged by Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated and Oranga Tamariki kaimahi and then referred to Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi partners for care, requires comprehensive information to be captured, and shared appropriately.

Chrissie Hape, CEO of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated said: “Our social sector accredited Kaupapa Māori service delivery partners needs a system that enables them to safely and securely coordinate whānau care and supports, while ensuring accurate information flows back to Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. Noted gives us that capability.” 

Chrissie said, “We’re excited about the progress so far and look forward to the opportunities for greater oversight of programme performance through this platform. It will allow us to measure the impact of Te Ara Matua on whānau wellbeing in a meaningful way.”

Noted Founder and CEO Scott Pearson added that Noted is honoured to be partnering with Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. 

“For over a decade, we’ve worked alongside community-based health and social care providers to solve complex challenges. Partnering with Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated on Te Ara Matua is an honour. We’re proud to support their vision and help demonstrate the difference they are making.”

Source: Noted media release

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The Competition Bureau has obtained a court order to gather information to advance its investigation into WELL Health’s acquisition of HEALWELL, which includes control over Orion Health, a company acquired by HEALWELL in April.

WELL Health, HEALWELL and Orion Health provide an ecosystem of healthcare technology products, including electronic medical record, patient portal, telehealth, scribe, decision-support and data analytics tools and applications, many of which are AI-driven. WELL Health also operates health clinics across Canada.

The Bureau is investigating whether WELL Health’s control of HEALWELL and Orion Health is likely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition for healthcare technology products and related services in Canada.  

The Bureau’s focus includes looking into the acquisition’s impacts on users – such as choice, cost, interoperability between products from different suppliers, and access to the latest innovations. The Bureau is also assessing whether the transaction raises barriers for competitors and new entrants or entrenches WELL Health's competitive position as a significant supplier of these healthcare products and services.

The order, granted by the Federal Court, requires WELL Health to produce records and information that are relevant to the Competition Bureau’s investigation.

Quick facts

• Healthcare technology products and related services are used by healthcare providers, clinics, hospitals, public health units, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and patients.
• On March 31, 2025, WELL Health acquired a majority interest in HEALWELL, when HEALWELL was in the process of acquiring Orion Health. 
• WELL Health, headquartered in Vancouver, is a publicly-traded provider of digital healthcare solutions and operates in-person clinics across Canada. 
• HEALWELL, based in Toronto, is a publicly-traded healthcare artificial intelligence company focused on preventative care. HEALWELL completed its acquisition of Orion Health on April 1, 2025.
• Orion Health, now owned by HEALWELL, is based in New Zealand and delivers data management and healthcare information intelligence solutions worldwide, including digital healthcare solutions to Canadian public sector clients.

Source: Competition Bureau Canada media release

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The Government is making changes to how health research is funded and managed in New Zealand. The aim is to align funding with Government priorities, streamline processes, reduce duplication, and to make the system easier for researchers to navigate.

Under the new approach:

• Health research funding will shift from the Health Research Council to Research Funding New Zealand, within a new Health and Society investment area.
• The Health Research Council will be disestablished, with its functions shared across Research Funding New Zealand, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and the Ministry of Health.
• A new National Standard on Ethical Conduct in Human Research will be introduced, led by the National Ethics Advisory Committee. All human research will be required to comply with this standard.
• Researchers will have the option to pay for a fast-track process for ethics review.

Planning starts in 2026, with full transition expected by 2028, subject to legislative change.

For more information about the new funding strategy for the science system visit MBIE’s website.

Source: Ministry of Health media release

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Alcidion Group Limited (ASX:ALC) today advises it has been selected as the preferred EPR supplier by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) for its new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system.

• University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) has selected Alcidion as the preferred supplier for its new Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system 
• Preferred supplier selection follows a competitive tender process
• Subject to successful negotiation it is anticipated to be a minimum 7-year contract utilising the full Miya Precision product suite along with partner applications
• Upon finalising the contract, Alcidion is targeting deployment commencement in Q4 FY26
• UHSussex is an existing Alcidion customer, using Alcidion’s Patientrack solution for Observations and Assessments

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) is located in the south of the UK and forms part of the Sussex Integrated Care System (ICS). They provide hospital and community health care for approximately a million people in Sussex. It is one of the largest acute trusts in the UK, with seven hospitals hosting more than 1.5 million outpatient appointments, A&E visits and surgery cases annually, employing nearly 20,000 staff.

Roxanne Smith, Chief Strategy Officer at UHSussex, said the decision represents a “big achievement” for the Trust.

“Reaching this point is a big achievement for an organisation of our size and complexity,” she said. “More than 1,500 staff helped shape what we need from an electronic patient record, and a further 150 were involved in selecting the right solution. That level of involvement reflects how strongly our teams feel about getting this right.

“Our patients are at the centre of every decision we make, and moving to a single electronic patient record will have a real impact on safety, quality of care and outcomes. For a large, busy Trust caring for communities across Sussex, moving from analogue to digital is essential if we are to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere.

“The EPR is a cornerstone of our Trust strategy. It will help us share information more securely and efficiently across our hospitals and with partners such as GPs and mental health services, reducing duplication, improving consistency, and supporting better joined-up care for our communities.”

Alcidion will deploy their flagship Miya Precision platform, including Miya Observations and Assessments (Patientrack), which is already live at the Trust. The solution will provide clinicians real-time access to patient records whilst streamlining patient flow and improving clinical decision-making processes.

Following a competitive tender process, we will now finalise the contract prior to commencing deployment of Miya Precision which is expected to commence in Q4 FY26. 

“We are excited to have been selected by UHSussex as their preferred EPR supplier,” said Kate Quirke, Alcidion Group Managing Director and CEO. “This builds on a long-standing relationship Alcidion have with UHSussex where they have been using Miya Observations and Assessments (Patientrack) for many years. UHSussex’s purpose for the EPR procurement is to implement a single, integrated digital platform that improves patient care, supports regional integration, drives operational efficiency, and delivers long-term social and research benefits. Miya Precision is ideally placed to deliver on this vision working alongside the implementation teams and clinical staff at UHSussex to ensure there is long term benefit to the people of this region.”

Source: Alcidion media release

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Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ) and the Digital Health Association (DHA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise their partnership in advancing digital health and health informatics across New Zealand.

The partnership will focus on three key areas; joint development and delivery of events and conferences related to digital health and health informatics; sharing of information, resources, and expertise to strengthen both organisations and their members; and exploration of joint opportunities that benefit the broader sector.

Alex Kemp, HiNZ chief executive, says the MOU formalises what has always been a natural partnership between the two organisations. 

“We share the same vision for advancing digital health in New Zealand, and by working together rather than in competition, we can achieve far more than either organisation could accomplish alone,” she says. 

“We are looking forward to working together to create meaningful opportunities that will benefit healthcare professionals and ultimately improve patient outcomes."

Stella Ward, chief executive of the DHA, says the partnership represents a significant step forward for New Zealand's digital health community. 

"By combining our resources and expertise we can deliver greater value to our members and accelerate progress across the entire sector,” she says. 

The agreement positions the relationship as one of partnership rather than competition.

As an initial step, the two organisations will be working collaboratively as co-hosts on the 2026 Digital Health Week conference.

Running for an initial two-year period, it establishes a collaborative framework based on alliance contracting principles including shared objectives, open communication, and joint decision-making processes.

Digital Health Association (DHA) 

The DHA is New Zealand's peak advocacy and industry body for the digital health sector, working closely with senior government officials, industry leaders, and the broader digital health ecosystem to foster collaboration and innovation.

Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ)

HiNZ is NZ’s trusted clinical and non-clinical digital health community that works together to position digital health as an enabler of quality healthcare and disability services through events, education, media and an online community.  

Source: HiNZ media release

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Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ) is delighted to announce the appointment of Alex Kemp as its new chief executive, effective immediately. 

Kemp joined HiNZ in June 2024 as director of engagement and brings a combination of sector expertise, governance experience, and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion to the role.

She is a speech language therapist with around 30 years clinical experience and nearly 20 years of leadership experience from across the health sector, including governance roles such as the former chair of the Clinical Informatics Leadership Network (CiLN), and as a HiNZ board member.

In her new role Kemp says she will continue to prioritise delivering value to members and strengthening partnerships across the digital health, disability, and social sectors. 

“I feel incredibly grateful and very lucky to be leading an organisation like HiNZ,” says Kemp. 

“We have an amazing community, and I am looking forward to where we are heading as we introduce some exciting changes beginning in 2026. I also really appreciate having Scott Arrol’s continuing support during this transition.” 

Arrol has been serving as acting chief executive since December 2025. He will remain with HiNZ as an executive director, supporting Kemp and assisting the board through the upcoming AGM.

“You have not got rid of me yet,” he says. 

“I am here to provide support to the new CEO and the board and ensure a smooth transition that positions HiNZ strongly for the future. It’s been a privilege to help guide the organisation, and I’m excited to continue contributing.”

HiNZ board chair Kyle Forde says Kemp’s leadership will serve HiNZ well as the organisation moves into its next chapter.

“Kemp brings exceptional sector knowledge, a genuine commitment to equity, and a strong track record of collaboration,” he says.

Source: HiNZ media release

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GS1, the global organisation behind the barcode, today announced a collaboration with Google that enables GS1 DataMatrix barcodes – already printed on millions of medicine packs worldwide – to be scanned and recognized by Google Lens, the company’s visual search tool.

With this new functionality, patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals will be able to use their smartphones to scan a GS1 DataMatrix barcode and access trusted product information, including electronic patient leaflets (ePILs). This marks a critical first step in advancing access to trusted medical product information.

While the functionality is now available through Google Lens, broad access to trusted medical information will depend on adoption by manufacturers. GS1 is working with several global companies to implement this capability and encourages all pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturers to make their product information available online so that patients everywhere can benefit.

“This collaboration between GS1 and Google is a major step forward in connecting the physical and digital worlds of healthcare,” said Renaud de Barbuat, President and CEO of GS1. “By enabling smartphone-native access to trusted medicine data, we’re advancing global healthcare transparency and giving patients and professionals the information they need to act with greater confidence.”

Building on two decades of healthcare digitalisation, the GS1 DataMatrix has become the global standard for medicine identification and traceability. It encodes essential details including batch number, expiry date, and unique identifiers; key information required by healthcare regulations in more than 70 countries. Today, more than 16 billion medicine packs in the U.S. and EU alone carry GS1 DataMatrix barcodes.

By connecting these existing barcodes to smartphone scanning, the collaboration between GS1 and Google extends access to trusted product information directly to patients and healthcare professionals worldwide. The existing barcodes can now be scanned natively using Google Lens on Android devices and on iOS devices in the near future.

While the scanning capability is already available globally, the extent of accessible information will depend on the readiness of the systems and manufacturers. This marks an important foundation for future expansion of trusted, interoperable healthcare data.

Developed and tested with GS1 and healthcare industry partners, this new capability represents a major advance in improving access to trusted healthcare data. It supports patient safety, informed decision-making, and access to accurate medical information.

In addition to improving patient safety and access to information, the shift toward digital access to electronic leaflets also supports sustainability. In the US alone, printed medicine leaflets are estimated to account for the loss of roughly 12 million trees and greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 800,000 cars each year, highlighting the environmental impact of digital innovation in healthcare.

“The ability to scan a GS1 DataMatrix directly with a smartphone camera is a breakthrough for global healthcare systems,” said Glen Hodgson, Vice President, Healthcare at GS1. “It means the same trusted standards that underpin medicine identification and traceability will deliver trusted information directly into the hands of those who need it most.”

This joint initiative reflects a commitment to open standards, and access to medical product information through technical collaboration. It aims to connect the physical and digital worlds of healthcare through trusted, interoperable data, making healthcare safer, smarter, and more efficient for everyone, everywhere —join us by making your product information available online so patients everywhere can benefit.

Source: GS1 media release

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