Telehealth helpful but no silver bullet for rural communities

The government is expanding the use of digital, telehealth and prevention services as part of future planning to enable care closer to home, Associate Health Minister (rural) Matt Doocey told the Co:Lab conference in Wellington on 23 October.

Doocey said that in rural areas there can be some hesitation when people are offered a digital solution because it can be seen as second rate, but once they experience it they realise its comparable and change their minds.

“I think digital and telehealth play an important part, but I would caution it is no silver bullet,” he told the audience. 

Health New Zealand is also setting up a Point-of-Care Testing Technical Advisory Group to support the rollout of diagnostic services in rural areas, to provide quicker diagnoses and treatment plans for patients in remote communities.

The group will advise on the National Pathology Clinical Framework and the National Urgent Care and After Hours framework launched earlier this year.

The framework includes $164 million funding over four years to boost urgent and after-hours care nationwide.

"By 2025, 98 percent of Kiwis will be able to access services within an hour's drive from home," Doocey told attendees.

"For many patients in rural communities, getting additional testing at the nearest hospital or lab might mean several hours of driving. In more urgent cases, it could require transfer via air ambulance.

"Pathology is recognised in Health New Zealand's health delivery plan as a core service for primary, community and hospital delivered care," Doocey said.

Health system faces challenges, not crises - Bloomfield

The challenges facing New Zealand's health system are not new or unique, former director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield says.

"I do not believe our health system is failing or broken, or that we are facing some sort of poly crisis," Bloomfield told the Co:Lab conference.

He said that many current issues, such as waiting lists and workforce shortages, have been around for decades, pointing to the Gibbs report from 1988 that highlighted similar concerns, including equity, access and waiting times for procedures.

Bloomfield, who is now chief executive of the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Sciense, said New Zealand's health expenditure per capita is above the OECD average and that public funding for healthcare as a percentage of GDP has stayed relatively stable over the past 25 years.

He also said data shows improved retention rates for both New Zealand-trained doctors and international medical graduates over the past two decades.

He suggested adopting a 10-year planning approach, to help move away from three-year political cycle and talked about the importance of data-driven decision-making and engaging with healthcare staff.

"The people working in the system are smart, deeply committed and focused on finding solutions," Bloomfield said.

Wellness and new sources of health info

Social media and AI are reshaping where people get their health information from, says Jeremy O'Donnell, senior product manager at Awanui.

O'Donnell highlighted a growing trend where people create and consume health information independently of healthcare professionals and said this is fostering distrust in clinical judgements.

"Healthcare providers are increasingly seen as gatekeepers rather than trusted clinical advisors," O'Donnell told the Co:Lab audience.

He said people freely post about medical experiences and give advice on platforms like Reddit, Facebook, and Instagram, without any professional oversight. Many are also using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT for health recommendations.

O’Donnell spoke about the significant growth in the wellness industry, saying it operates under different funding models and objectives from the health sector. 

He said clinicians could broaden their wellness advice beyond basic recommendations and collaborate with wellness organisations to amplify their message and encourage referrals from wellness services back to the healthcare system.

Public and private sector collaboration fosters innovation

Public sector support is crucial in scaling Kiwi-grown healthcare innovation, says the chief executive of the Digital Health Association.

Stella Ward spoke at Co:Lab 2025 about her involvement in the development of Via Innovations, a business unit linked to the New Zealand Health Innovation Hub. This unit helps commercialise public sector intellectual property and builds partnerships between healthcare providers and tech companies.

“This created the opportunity for innovation and industry partnership: sometimes you need to be really close to the provider of a technology or the capability that you are using in order to continue to enhance its capability,” she said.

Canterbury has worked to bring together healthcare providers, educators and researchers to drive innovation in the sector.

Te Papa Hauora Health Precinct includes representatives from the University of Canterbury, University of Otago, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Health New Zealand and Ngāi Tahu with the aim of promoting research and innovation that benefits the community.

The Manawa building is the hub of the precinct and is "all about fostering connections”, she said.

“By bringing together people from various disciplines and parts of the health ecosystem, you create opportunities for innovative conversations and collaborations,” Ward told the lab conference.

Throughout the year, the building hosts public research presentations, conferences and innovation showcases, with attendance from students, healthcare professionals and the public.

Image : Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey

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Technology has an important role to play in enhancing aged care rather than replacing the human element as the sector faces workforce challenges and growing demand, says the Aged Care Assocation chief executive.

Tracey Martin is speaking at Digital Health Week this November in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

She believes in using technology to "release humans to be as human as possible" and has recently seen interesting uses of robotic companions and virtual assistants in aged care which are working well, but says these could never replace caregivers.

"Care particularly is a human thing," she tells eHealthNews. 

"The hype that is being built is that technology will solve all of our staffing problems, but that is not going to happen."

Martin says virtual care is particularly useful for rural and regional areas where access to general practitioners and registered nurses is limited, but regulation and contractual arrangements are currently barriers to using more virtual services.

Dementia care is another area that can significantly benefit from new innovations as projections are that one in four New Zealanders will have the condition within the next 25 years. 

Technology can help give people with dementia more independence by shifting from secure units to secure grounds models, enabled by Bluetooth technology connected to door and gate locking systems.

"Technology is allowing us to give greater freedoms to those who need to be secure," Martin says.

She adds that parts of the aged care sector face financial barriers when it comes to adopting new technologies, even when these would ultimately save money by making them more efficient.

Smaller operators, including charities, not-for-profits, and rural providers, make up around 60 percent of the aged residential care community, but they have little financial capacity to invest.

"They are so under the pump and the funding model is broken, so just staying across what is available and what is possible is a challenge for them,” says Martin.

Register for Digital Health Week to hear more from Tracey and other inspiring health leaders. Earlybird pricing finishes October 31.

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Leadership expert and author James Laughlin will present strategies for "possibilitarian leadership"  at Digital Health Week in Christchurch this November, aimed at helping healthcare professionals maintain resilience amid ongoing sector pressures.

Laughlin will focus on helping attendees shift from what he calls "miniscularian" thinking to a more possibility-focused approach. 

He says his presentation will address the particular challenges facing healthcare workers who often operate under significant stress and long hours.

"I am going to be talking about possibilitarian thinking. So looking through the lens of what is truly possible, particularly in difficult times," Laughlin says.

"I see a lot of miniscularians in the world, people who are miniscule in their thinking, very negative, always avoiding taking big swings or risks. 

"If we focus on the challenge, often it creates stress and distress. But if we could focus on the possibilities, it allows us to be more free and move forward." 

The Christchurch-based global leadership expert recently published a book – Habits of high performers - which identifies seven key practices shared by successful leaders across industries. 

These include; getting radically clear on goals, supercharging your belief systems, leading your life on purpose, multiplying motivation, doing the work, focusing on priorities, and taking no shortcuts.

He says people should work on changing one habit at a time, rather than attempting multiple changes all at once, and that research suggests it takes 66 days for a habit to become automatic.

For healthcare workers, Laughlin recommends  focusing on controllable factors rather than dwelling on systemic issues outside their influence. 

"Often we vent about and ruminate on things that we have no control over," he says. 

"So just taking responsibility, focus on the things that we actually can control, which is how we show up, how we respond, how disciplined we are, how focused we are."

He also encourages what he calls "taking your meds" - a weekly check-in on meditation or mindfulness, exercise, diet, and sleep.

Laughlin promises his presentation will be engaging and practical, providing attendees with actionable strategies they can implement straight away. 

Register now to hear from Laughlin and other inspiring speakers at Digital Health Week 2025 this November 24-27 in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Earlybird pricing ends 31 October.

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SECTOR UPDATE - University of Auckland

New Zealand has won the right to host the world’s premier conference in medical artificial intelligence imaging and robotics, defeating rival bids from Melbourne and Perth.

Auckland will welcome around 3,000 delegates to the 2027 International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI). 

The announcement was made this week in South Korea, which is hosting the 2025 conference, with 3,400 participants. 

MICCAI 2027 will be the 30th annual event, and the largest AI medical imaging and robotics conference ever staged in the Southern Hemisphere, securing Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland and the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) a central role on the global stage.

It will be held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre, which is due to open in February next year.

A landslide victory

Auckland Bioengineering Institute Associate Professor Jichao Zhao, who was leading the bid on behalf of the University of Auckland, said the selection panel had been unanimous in its decision, with all eligible votes cast for Auckland.  

“Our bid showed real unity. We had leading researchers on the team, from the University of Auckland and also from King’s College London and Western University in Canada. We also had strong support from the Auckland Convention Bureau, Tourism New Zealand, and even our Trade Commissioner to Korea was present in person for the bid presentation.

”Tourism NZ, the Auckland Convention Bureau and the International Convention Centre together put up $610,000 to support Auckland's bid."

The selection panel praised the Auckland bid for striking a balance between the scientific programme and the tourism and business strengths of the city and the country, Zhao said.

This is the second time Auckland has bid to host the MICCAI conference, which was first run in 1998 in the US.

New Zealand's largest city lost out to Daejeon in Korea in 2021, bidding for the 2025 event.

“If we had lost to Australia this time, we would have had to wait another 20 years for a real chance to host again.” 

Zhao says hosting the conference in Auckland will “strengthen engagement across Oceania, attract leading experts and new talent from around the world, and highlight research from Aotearoa New Zealand, while fostering progress in research, education, and clinical practice worldwide”.

Gemma Wood, business development manager at Auckland Convention Bureau, says MICCAI 2027 is expected to attract 2800-3000 delegates and generate an estimated economic impact of $5.7 million for the city, including approximately 15,500 visitor nights.

"This will be a wonderful opportunity for Auckland Bioengineering Institute and University of Auckland staff and students, and the wider medtech community, to engage with world leaders in advanced technologies that are driving the field forward." - Professor Merryn Tawhai, Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland

The proposed theme for the Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention 2027 conference is ‘From the Pacific to the world: Driving MICCAI’s impact towards equitable healthcare’.

This reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s vibrant research culture, its ethnically diverse society, and its rapidly growing health-tech sector, Zhao says. 

“We aim to focus MICCAI’s innovations on real-world, deployable technologies that address pressing healthcare needs in both developed and resource-limited settings – delivering affordable, accessible healthcare to the majority of the world for whom costly solutions remain out of reach."

Auckland Bioengineering Institute director Professor Merryn Tawhai says the conference win is significant.

“MICCAI has long been considered the premier conference in its field with a highly selective peer-review process for submissions. It covers areas that are very relevant to New Zealand’s medical technologies research, including AI and medical robotics. 

“This will be a wonderful opportunity for Auckland Bioengineering Institute and University of Auckland staff and students, and the wider medtech community, to engage with world leaders in advanced technologies that are driving the field forward.” 

Source: University of Auckland media release

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SECTOR UPDATE - University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is bringing together some of Aotearoa's brightest minds to discuss how you can stay ahead in an AI-powered world. Tap into practical insights in this free series built for busy professionals like you who are shaping their future.

• Meet the inspiring speakers including Sir Ashley Bloomfield.
• Multidisciplinary panel discussing Thriving in tomorrow’s workforce - resilience, upskilling and career transition in the age of AI.
• On-demand content featuring real-life journeys across business, science, health, engineering, education, law and more. 
• Whether you're interested in the future of work, AI ethics, or staying resilient in a fast-moving world, this event offers insights worth sharing.

Sign up here - https://response.auckland.ac.nz/ignite

Source: University of Auckland media release

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Source: Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network media release

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An impressive line-up of global and local keynote speakers will address the future of healthcare at New Zealand’s largest digital health conference, now less than a month away.

Taking place in Hamilton from December 2-5, Digital Health Week NZ 2024 brings together the brightest minds in the sector to showcase cutting-edge innovation and leadership in health.

This year’s plenary stage features two speakers from the United Arab Emirates, which is investing heavily in data and digital health to reshape its healthcare system: Khulood Alsayegh, head of clinical standards and guidelines at the Dubai Health Authority and Immanuel Azaad Moonesar, professor of health policy and systems research at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. 

Adding an international perspective on the role of artificial intelligence in medicine, Raj Jena, the UK’s first clinical professor of AI in radiotherapy, will delve into AI's transformative potential in radiotherapy and patient care.

HiNZ is also delighted to have NZ Innovator of the Year Cecilia Robinson share her experience as a serial entrepreneur and visionary for the future of health in Aotearoa.

Darren Douglass, acting chief information technology officer for Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora, will discuss national plans for enhancing healthcare efficiency and accessibility using technology, and Minister of Health Shane Reti will share his vision on the future of digital health. 

The conference offers six themed tracks each exploring critical aspects of data and digital health; AI and Machine Learning; Data and Analytics; Strategy and Leadership; Quality, Safety, and Governance; Transformation; and Integrating Care. 

Four thought-provoking panel sessions will discuss diverse issues such as enabling equity in digital health, women in leadership, virtual healthcare, and social or digital determinants of health. 

Steve Earnshaw, HiNZ board chair, says the sessions and panels will encourage exploration of current challenges and future directions in New Zealand’s healthcare landscape, with a focus on innovation, equity, and accessibility.

“This 22nd conference is set to be one of our best yet, with a lineup of inspirational speakers and excellent networking opportunities,” he says. 

“Digital Health Week offers a unique platform for industry leaders, innovators, healthcare providers, and policymakers to connect, share knowledge, and inspire one another. We encourage everyone invested in the future of healthcare to join us in Hamilton this December.”

Five workshops kick off Digital Health Week on December 2-3, with the full conference opening at 4pm on Tuesday December 3. 

Limited day passes and full conference passes are still available – register online.

For more information and the full event programme, visit the Digital Health Week NZ website.

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Meet the Ascom Healthcare Platform; technology solutions designed for proactive and predictive care in clinical communication and collaboration. With you every step of the way; each solution is—like all Ascom healthcare workflow orchestration solutions—fully open, vendor neutral, and interoperable. They work with virtually all existing and/or planned ICT infrastructures, medical devices and healthcare IT systems. 

Moreover, each solution is designed to be easily scalable—equally effective in a single facility as in a multi-site healthcare organisation. And regardless of its size, each solution is supported by worldwide implementation, customer support and training programs.

Ascom Healthcare Platform makes it easier and safer than ever for clinicians to make the best possible care decisions for patients. That’s good news for doctors, nurses and hospital managers. But it’s also a great news for patients and their families. Because now caregivers have a unified user interface when using any Ascom solution for Acute Care. Here are some of the benefits: 

• Coordinate care teams’ tasks and responses 
• Manage alarm and nurse call notifications 
• Provide proactive care thanks to our Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) solution 
• Optimise staff efficiency—while simultaneously helping to reduce cognitive burdens and distractions on frontline caregivers 
• Create quieter, calmer healing environments with our silent medical alarms solution 
• Supports business continuity with virtualised solutions and open APIs 
  

Seven Ascom solutions. One Ascom User Interface. 

The Ascom Healthcare Platform consists of seven conveniently organised solutions providing the clinical communication and workflow orchestration tools needed to meet today’s care challenges.

1. Workplace and staff safety
2. Care coordination
3. Response teams management
4. Smart nurse call systems
5. Clinical monitoring and alarm management
6. Silent medical alarms
7. Clinical decision support system
   

The challenges of course vary from facility to facility and country to country. No single magic bullet can overcome all the challenges. But the Ascom Healthcare Platform is a pioneering step forward. It’s all about the better outcomes. 

Discover more here: 👉  Acute care communication and collaboration solutions | Ascom

Meet us at booth 72 and discuss how we can address your unique needs. Our workflow solutions are optimised for you so you can quickly and confidently get back to the work that matters most. Ask our experts for an in-booth demonstration!

Reach out to us at:
Email: au-marketing@ascom.com
Contact us form: Contact Us Now | Ascom
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascom 

 Source: Ascom media release

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We are excited to share information about the upcoming 9th Digital Mental Health International Congress, a world-class event set to take place in Ottawa, Canada, on September 19-20, 2024.

Register today

Hosted by the eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, the Congress is a must-attend for mental health professionals seeking to stay current with national and global best practices in digital mental health.

Digital technologies can offer valuable assistance to clients beyond traditional sessions and provide tangible solutions to the global mental health crisis. Understanding the digital mental health ecosystem is essential for those aiming to shape the future of mental health globally. The Congress presents a unique opportunity to gain profound insights into this critical domain, explore successful large-scale initiatives worldwide, and connect with the growing international network of change-makers, thought leaders, and passionate colleagues.

Event details:

• Congress dates: September 19-20, 2024
• Location: Shaw Centre, Ottawa, Canada; and online
• Congress theme: Digital Building Capacity: 24/7 Mental Health Support for All
• Register: Registration link
  

Early-bird pricing: Until August 18.

Standard pricing: Starting August 19.

The location of this year’s event is the stunning Shaw Centre in the heart of Ottawa.
This world-class venue will be sure to inspire you and our 500 attendees from all over
Canada, and further across the globe.

The location of this year’s event is the stunning Shaw Centre in the heart of Ottawa. This world-class venue will be sure to inspire you and our 500 attendees from all over Canada, and further across the globe.

Who Will Be There:
The Digital Mental Health International Congress is renowned as the foremost event dedicated to advancing digital mental health. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to connect with and learn from prominent researchers, administrators, and commissioners of mental health systems from governments worldwide, as well as passionate clinicians, healthcare IT experts spearheading cutting-edge advancements, influential figures with lived experience, and respected global non-governmental organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization.

This year, an unprecedented number of government representatives from 18 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania will be in attendance, marking a global shift toward seamlessly integrating digital technologies into mainstream care systems. Over the course of the two-day event, attendees will have ample opportunities to connect and collaborate with speakers and esteemed colleagues representing over 20 countries.

What You’ll Learn About:

• Global government initiatives: Examine the diverse strategies, policies, and frameworks being implemented worldwide to integrate digital mental health into national systems of care.
• The future of mental health delivery: Understand how clinicians are embracing digital tools as integral components of patient care, shaping the future of mental health delivery.
• Enhancing health service capacities: Explore the potential of digital solutions to increase the capacity of health services to address the growing needs of populations, and discover the steps toward achieving this goal.
• Innovative digital products: Explore examples of innovative products pushing the digital frontier and significantly improving mental health outcomes on a large scale.
• Indigenous perspectives: Explore how digital mental health can leverage valuable insights from various indigenous communities from around the world, showcasing examples of digital solutions effectively co-created to meet their specific needs.
• Eliminating prejudice and stigma: Examine established and emerging digital approaches aimed at eliminating mental health prejudice and stigma.
• Lived-experience perspectives: Gain crucial insights from advocates with lived experience who are contributing to the development of safe and effective digital solutions that truly resonate with end-users.
• Effective helplines: Discover highly effective case studies of text and phone helplines, showcasing their impact in supporting countless individuals in times of need.
• Ethical and legal considerations: Understand the ethical and legal considerations that are vital to the safe and responsible delivery of digital mental health solutions.
• Support for remote and rural populations: Learn about how digital solutions can provide essential support to remote and rural populations, addressing unique challenges in mental health access.
  

…and much more!

Congress Theme:
This year's theme, “Digital Building Capacity: 24/7 Mental Health Support for All,” offers a highly practical and implementation-focused perspective on the transformative impact of digital health technologies. It emphasizes the critical need to build capacity within the mental health workforce globally to ensure round-the-clock support for every individual.

What Makes This Event Different?
The caliber and global diversity of attendees make this Congress an unmissable event for anyone interested in the future of global mental healthcare. Importantly, the congress is built on a foundation of aiming to make real change. The focus on implementation showcases examples of large-scale, transformative research, impactful strategic policies, and proven frontline workforce tools for those who are serious about making a difference. There is no other digital mental health event that gathers decision-makers from governments and industry groups around the world, to collaborate on how to implement digital mental health at scale.

Learn More:
For further details about the Congress, including the agenda, speakers, and registration information, please visit the 2024 Congress Website. If you are attending from outside of Ottawa, eMHIC has secured a limited number of accommodation options near the venue, accessible through a unique booking link for your convenience. For those unable to attend in person, online attendance is also available via eMHIC’s interactive event platform.

For any inquiries, please reach out to the eMHIC team at congress@emhicglobal.com.

Source: eMHIC media release

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The future of AI in healthcare and the transformation of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system will be explored at Digital Health Week NZ 2023.

Health Informatics NZ (HiNZ) is celebrating its 21st conference as part of Digital Health Week this November 27-30. With 1400 delegates expected at Claudelands in Hamilton, it is the largest digital health conference in the country.

HiNZ chief executive Tim Corbett says digital health is no longer something done ‘on the side’, but is interwoven into how we deliver our health and disability system for consumers.

“Data and digital tools are being used to tackle some of the very real issues facing our health system, such as access and workforce. HiNZ is proud to bring the leaders, thinkers and doers in this space together to share, learn and collaborate,” he says.

“Ultimately it’s all about whānau and Digital Health Week focuses on how to enable the health system of the future, that delivers equity and access for consumer and whānau.”

You’ve read this article for free, but good journalism takes time and resource to produce. Please consider supporting eHealthNews by becoming a member of HiNZ, for just $17 a month.

He adds that HiNZ has given away five conference minbooths to startsups in the sector as a way to support innovation and new technology.

Director general of health Diana Sarfati and Te Whatu Ora chief data and digital Leigh Donoghue will open the conference on November 28 along with influential speaker Ngahihi o te ra Bidois.

Keynote speakers include doctors Raj Jena, oncologist at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Angela Lim, founder of Clearhead, speaking about the current and future uses of assistive AI in health.

Programme director Becky George says the conference will showcase the exciting and transformational work going on around the motu and globally, focused on integrating care, equity, data and workforce.

“There’s a huge diversity of topics and in-person connection is so important to sparking those ideas and collaborations that will drive transformation in health,” she says.

A lived experience panel where people talk about their experience of the health system as consumers and carers and how that could be enhanced by digital tools will be a particular highlight.

“As a sector we are all striving to achieve better outcomes for our consumers and hearing the whānau consumer voice is essential to achieving that,” George says.

Register now! Supersaver closes September 22.

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Join the annual Digital Trust Hui Taumata - Building a digital future we can trust on 1 August, 2023. The summit is the must-attend event for New Zealand’s digital identity and trust ecosystem.

In 2023, new legislation will define the rules for the delivery of digital identity services. The Digital Trust Hui Taumata is exploring growth opportunities for our digital trust economy including the banking, health and retail sectors.

The Digital Trust Hui Taumata will showcase:

• an inclusive and equitable digital Aotearoa
• collaborating on growth opportunities for our digital trust economy
• digital trust across banking, health and retail sectors.
  

Our one-day programme features keynote presentations, panel discussions, roundtables and more.

The annual Digital Trust Hui Taumata is leading the digital trust conversation in Aotearoa. It is brought to you by Digital Identity New Zealand (DINZ) and NZTech.

HiNZ members are eligible for a 20% discount offer - click here for further details and the promo code to use.

Source: Digital Identity New Zealand media release

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MedInfo 2023, 8-12 July 2023, Sydney, Australia

Full program out now!
The complete #MEDINFO23 program is now available and ready to explore. Featuring healthcare professionals from around the globe, the program includes panels, workshops, keynotes, concurrent sessions and posters all sharing insights on the latest developments in digital health.

Showcased over five days, every topic you can think of related to digital health innovation is covered, including global health informatics, data science and artificial intelligence, virtual care, personalised care, cybersecurity, strategic change management, enabling the workforce, health data accessibility, standards and interoperability and so much more.

MedInfo 2023 is your opportunity to join leading experts from around the world and explore the latest breakthroughs. Don't miss your chance to be a part of the conversation and help shape the future of healthcare beyond borders.

View the program

Early bird registration extended to 28 April
Good news! You have another 11 days to register at the early bird rate. Save up to $150 if you register by 28 April 2023! Group registration rates are also available. Don’t delay and register today.

Register now

Source: AIDH media release

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You are warmly invited to the third Hack Aotearoa AI in Healthcare Conference and Datathon event being held in partnership with MIT Critical Data and hosted by the Faculty of Medical Health Science at the University of Auckland, and the Division of Health Sciences at Otago University.

Join Hack Aotearoa and take part in a rare opportunity for cross-disciplinary collaboration that can produce real solutions to real clinical questions and challenges!

The theme of Hack Aotearoa 2023 is Mahitahi – partnerships and collaboration. Artificial Intelligence, digital health and data science are key enablers for transformations within health systems, organisations, and models of care - we aim to bring together health professionals, technologists and data scientists to develop a greater understanding of the respective fields, the opportunities to improve health outcomes and equity, showcase Māori and Pacific data and digital innovation and learn collaboratively through a datathon event.

You'll learn the latest implications of Artificial Intelligence and data and digital innovation in healthcare from world-renowned international and local experts including Dr. Eric Topol, our opening keynote speaker. Internationally renowned Dr. Topol is the Founder and Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, Professor, Molecular Medicine, and Executive Vice-President of Scripps Research.

Other speakers include: Dr. Leo Celi, Fepulea'i Margie Apa, Riana Manuel, Dr. Shane Reti, Robyn Kamira, Dr. Allamanda Faatoese, Dr. Corina Grey, and Morris Pita. To learn more about the speakers, visit the Hack Aotearoa website here.

This event will take place in Auckland from Friday 17th March to Sunday 19th March 2023 with a conference day at the Pullman Hotel followed by a datathon at the University of Auckland.

Register now!
https://uoaevents.eventsair.com/hack-aotearoa-2023/reghack23/Site/Register

Source: The University of Auckland media release

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New Zealand’s largest digital health event is underway in Rotorua this week with more than 1100 delegates; 220 speakers and 100 exhibitors.

Digital Health Week, which is run by Health Informatics NZ (HiNZ), is an annual conference, but has been unable to run since 2019 due to Covid-19 causing cancellations.

HiNZ board chair Karen Blake says New Zealand’s digital health community is buzzing about being able to get together again to share, learn and network.

“The health system has undergone significant change this year with the creation of Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ and Te Aka Whai Ora. This conference is an opportunity to collaborate on the health system of the future,” she says.

“The arrival of Covid-19 really put data and digital health technologies in the spotlight: leading to a significant spike in the use of telehealth, as well as adoption of remote patient monitoring and Kiwis accessing and entering personal health information online via My Health Account.”

Blake says greater use of data and digital technologies is one of the key pillars of the health reforms and will help to improve efficiency, outcomes and equity in the health system.

New Zealand’s interim Health Plan – Te Pae Tata - says Te Whatu Ora will grow the opportunities for people to use digital tools to access and use their health information, make appointments, receive phone and video consultations and use equipment to monitor their health at home.

“Digital health is the future of health in New Zealand. At some point we will stop talking about digital health, and it will just be health,” says Blake.

“It is critical that the different professionals within the health IT sector are brought together to collaborate, network and solve problems: this will ultimately benefit all New Zealanders.”

To comment on or discuss this news story, go to the eHealthNews category on the HiNZ eHealth Forum

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The 8th Annual eMental Health International Congress is returning to Auckland this November.

As usual, the Congress mission is to bring together world leaders and subject matter experts to share the latest developments in eMental health implementation science and learn from one another. After two years of virtual events, eMHIC is delighted to invite New Zealand and international speakers and attendees to connect in-person, with virtual attendance also available.

The theme this year is ‘Mental Health’s Transformation: Bringing the Ecosystem to Life’, focussing on the transformative impact digital technologies are having on the mental health industry, and the broader infrastructure that is being implemented to create a robust, global eMental Health ecosystem.

This Year
With government representatives from 7 countries attending in person, alongside international celebrity keynotes and a variety of world leaders in eMental Health, this year’s Congress is bigger than ever.

Attendees can expect to connect with global thought-leaders, be informed and inspired by a high-impact agenda, and glean practical learnings from one another to take home and implement within their work, organisations, and countries.

To this end, local and international speakers will share experiences, lessons, and insights from their respective jurisdictions, continuing to cultivate a strong culture of global collaboration within the eMental Health industry.


Event Details
When
Thursday 10th November - Friday 11th November (NZDT, GMT + 13:00)

Theme
Mental Health’s Transformation: Bringing the Ecosystem to Life

Where
Day One will be held in person at The Pullman Hotel, Central Auckland, New Zealand. It will also be live streamed on a customised Event Platform to allow global participation by those who can’t make it in person. Day Two is a virtual only day.

What
Congress includes two days of speakers, presentations, and collaboration sessions. The Congress officially runs from 8.30am - 5.30pm on Thursday 11th, and 8.30am - 1.30pm on Friday 11th (NZDT, GMT + 13:00).

For in person attendees, networking drinks and nibbles will be held at the end of Day One, and an additional Congress Dinner is held at 7pm to allow further networking opportunities.

For online attendees, the customised event platform offers networking opportunities with the global audience, and the opportunity to participate and ask live questions at the event.

Who
The Congress will be attended both in person and virtually by noted international eMental Health experts spanning policy, strategy, funding and planning, people with lived experience, mental health workforce, academia, and members of the product innovation industry.

Link to register on the eMHIC Congress page: https://emhicglobal.com/emental-health-international-congress-2022/

Source: eMHIC media release

Sector updates are provided by organisations to eHealthNews.nz and have not necessarily been edited or checked for accuracy. Any queries should be directed to the organisation issuing the release.

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We are delighted to announce that the Hon Andrew Little will open the MTANZ HealthTech Conference on 28 June 2022.

The Minister of Health will take the HealthTech Week stage just 3 days before the health reforms come into effect. Take your opportunity to hear directly from one of the architects of the major reforms and learn how the changes to the health sector will impact our industry.

From the opening keynote by the Minister of Health, to presentations from the Chairs of Health NZ and the Maori Authority, this conference is simply unmissable for any business that currently supplies into New Zealand's public hospitals.

The MTANZ conference is part of HealthTech Week which starts on Monday, 27 June with the Innovation Day. Callaghan Innovation, the Consortium for Medical Device Technologies (CMDT) and MTANZ are pleased to be partnering once again to bring you the latest on innovative health technologies, clinical trials and changes in the NZ med-tech system. We are also excited to be collaborating with the Aoteroa Brain Project, the Digital Health Association (DHA formerly NZHiT), Medicines NZ (MNZ) and Health informatics NZ (HiNZ) to bring you a broadened perspective of the health transition encompassing data & digital and medicines.

The social highlight of HealthTech Week is the Awards & Networking Event on Tuesday, 28 June which has been revamped to allow more time for mixing & mingling over exquisite food and drinks at the Cordis. MTANZ's second conference day of HealthTech Week closes with the members only AGM on Wednesday, 29 June.

Get more information on all events of HealthTech Week online and register today!

Source: MTANZ media release

Sector updates are provided by organisations to eHealthNews.nz and have not necessarily been edited or checked for accuracy. Any queries should be directed to the organisation issuing the release.

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MTANZ is pleased to advise that REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for HealthTech Week 2022 at the Cordis Hotel from 27-30 June.

Titled 'Aotearoa - A Revolution in Health', this year's HealthTech Week will delve into all aspects of the New Zealand Health Reforms and what these changes mean for the health sector and health tech industries.

HealthTech Week will look and feel a little different this year as we have widened our collaborations to encompass other associations we work closely with. We are continuing to partner closely with our colleagues from Callaghan Innovation and the Consortium for Medical Device Technologies (CMDT) to kick off the week with the 'Combined Stakeholder's Innovation Day' on Monday, 27 June showcasing New Zealand’s innovation in medical technology and the ecosystem that can support our vibrant sector from research, development and commercialisation to market access.

We are also collaborating with the Digital Health Association (DHA formerly NZHiT), Medicines NZ (MNZ) and Health Informatics NZ (HiNZ) on the 'MTANZ HealthTech Conference' from 28-29 June to provide a broadened perspective of the health transition encompassing data & digital and medicines. This event will provide important information on the health transition from the Minister of Health, the Maori Health Authority, Health NZ and Pharmac. Industry leaders and clinicians will give their perspectives on the reforms and importantly, we will hear from patients and what the changes mean for them.

The CMDT and Aotearoa Brain Project 'Te Tītoki Mataora Forum' from 28-30 June is a new translational research initiative to advance New Zealand’s capability in medtech translation, and accelerate clinical and commercial opportunities into sustainable ventures that contribute to New Zealand’s health and economic growth.

The very successful 'Women in HealthTech (WiHT) Breakfast' meeting will also be back with a panel of female executives sharing their career journeys and factors that led to their professional success.

Whether it is finding out more about the Health Reforms, networking with colleagues you haven’t seen for a while, attending the HealthTech Showcase to learn about new technology, or attending the revamped Awards & Networking Night we would be delighted to see you there.

Find out more and register by visiting the HealthTech Week website.

Register here

Source: MTANZ media release

Sector updates are provided by organisations to eHealthNews.nz and have not necessarily been edited or checked for accuracy. Any queries should be directed to the organisation issuing the release.

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Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ) has postponed its annual conference 'Digital Health Week NZ' for a second consecutive year, saying the Delta outbreak makes it too risky to proceed.
 
The conference, which was due to be held between November 29 and December 1 in Wellington, is normally attended by 1400 people from across the health and technology sector.

“We’re very disappointed" says HiNZ CEO, Kim Mundell, "but we have no option, given there’s no clear indication when the country will be able to safely run large-scale events again.”
 
The association could not wait any longer for alert levels to drop, because non-refundable expenses ramp up in the month before the conference, she said. “Our previous conference in November 2019 cost $1 million to run, so the financial risk from last-minute cancellation is significant."
 
Mundell said the postponement decision was made at the HiNZ Board meeting on Monday night.
 
HiNZ Board Chair, Becky George, says "HiNZ wishes to take a lead in protecting delegates and reducing transmission, and we are investigating ways to safely run in-person events in 2022 and enable sector wide engagement."
 
Mundell said the conference will be renamed Digital Health Connect Event, and will incorporate a series of events, spanning the month of March 2022. It will incorporate in-person and virtual elements, to make it accessible to all.

The in-person conference is scheduled for 22-24 March 2022 at TSB Arena in Wellington.

• The workshops will be on Tuesday 22 March 2022.
• The speaker sessions and exhibition will be on 23+24 March 2022.
• Further details will be announced in the HiNZ newsletter over coming weeks. 
• Speakers and exhibitors will receive an email directly from HiNZ with additional details.
• The postponement FAQ page on the HiNZ website will be updated daily and is your best source of the latest information. 

If you have a question, please contact HiNZ CEO Kim Mundell.

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Under current alert level rules, a large-scale event is unable to run unless the country is in Alert Level 1.

 The Ministry of Health has stated that the vaccine certificate app is due to be launched in November.

Digital Health Week NZ is scheduled to run from 29 November to 1 December 2021 and the format of the event would make reliable social distancing difficult to achieve.

There might be a change to the rules to allow large scale events using My Covid Record, to run under Alert Level 2 without social distancing, and HiNZ awaits clarification on whether this might happen, when it will happen, and how it might affect our conference.

The HiNZ board and management team are assessing a range of options, including a possible postponement of the conference to 22-23 March 2022, and changes to the format of the conference with a combination of in-person and virtual formats.

A final decision has not been made yet, as we are still working through the options, implications and contingencies.

HiNZ has a board meeting planned for Monday 11 October and we hope to announce early next week whether we will go ahead with the planned November conference dates or whether we will postpone to March 2022.

HiNZ wishes to thank our members, speakers, delegates, exhibitors and sponsors for their patience and understanding.

We are doing our best to find a way to safely deliver you the in-person customer connection event you want, within challenging times.

 
If you have any questions about the conference and our contingency plans, please contact HiNZ CEO Kim Mundell.

Read more Covid-19 news

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NEWS – eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Health Informatics NZ is running a Digital Health Leadership Summit to facilitate collaboration and leadership in what has been a momentous year so far for data and digital health. 

The arrival of Covid-19 has led to a rapid transformation of the health and disability system as GPs, community providers and hospitals have moved to deliver digitally enabled appointments for patients and clinicians have embraced digital technologies such as ePrescribing and eOrdering.

The Digital Health Leadership Summit replaces the HiNZ Conference 2020, which was due to be held in Hamilton this November, but was cancelled due to the event and border uncertainties caused by the global pandemic. The HiNZ Conference will return to Wellington on 29 November to 1 December 2021, as part of Digital Health Week NZ.

HiNZ chief executive Kim Mundell says a survey of health sector leaders revealed that in 2020 they want smaller events that give them the opportunity to meet other digital health leaders face-to-face in a responsible way. They asked for local events to reduce the time and cost of conference attendance.

"These regional events come at an ideal time for healthcare leaders to reflect on recent events and consider next steps in New Zealand's digital health transformation," she says.

The Digital Health Leadership Summit will be repeated in three different cities, running from 9am to 5pm, followed by a networking event until 7pm.

• Monday 23 November 2020 – CHRISTCHURCH
• Wednesday 25 November 2020 – WELLINGTON
• Friday 27 November 2020 – AUCKLAND

Mundell says HiNZ has gone for an innovative new approach using discussion tables to enable true collaboration amongst digital health leaders, with outputs achieved at the end of each day.

Some keynote speakers will also present during the day.

Attendance is free and by invitation only, you can apply to attend by filling in this online form.

Applications will be considered based on whether a person’s job, organisation, and reason for attending, makes them eligible as a current or emerging leader/influencer in digital health.

If you would like to provide feedback on this news story, please contact the editor Rebecca McBeth.

Read more news:

nHIP delayed due to Covid-19

DHBs eye up ‘quick wins’ in digital maturity

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Picture:Audience members listening to a presentation at the HiNZ Conference 2018

Digital transformation

Healthcare Holdings head of digital health Lloyd McCann told HiNZ 2018 attendees that the single biggest driver for change in the health systems is patients, who are becoming more powerful because of their access to information via the Internet.

“We have been a provider-centric system for decades, we have been talking about patient centric care for decades, but we haven’t transformed at all in my opinion,” he said.

McCann said value-based care is about ensuring that healthcare is improving the outcomes for patients and flipping from asking “what’s the matter with you?” to “what matters to you?”.

He gave examples of transforming the patient experience of Mercy Radiology’s head and neck lump clinic by reducing what was a three to four month process down to a 45 minute appointment.

Pharmacogenetic testing

Pharmacogenetics involves drug doses being tailored to a person’s genetic make-up as everybody processes drugs differently.

Andrew Winnington, managing director Precision Medicine International told HiNZ attendees that the US FDA now recommends genetic testing before prescribing at least 200 medications.

He said medications taken as prescribed kill more people than diabetes and non-Caucasian people are more likely to be adversely affected.

In New Zealand, 28 percent of hospital patients experience one or more medication-related harm. Maori have been shown to be poor metabolisers of many drugs and fast metabolisers of others.

This means many people are “on medications that aren’t working or are doing more harm than good,” he said.

Winnington argued that pharmacogenetic testing can have a significant impact on medication harm and a lead to a reduction in adverse events and healthcare costs. 

Death Documents

The Death Documents service has got off to a lively start according to Glyn Wilson and Anne Goodwin from the Ministry of Health. The system digitises what was previously a paper process involving duplicate carbon copy forms and was first delivered as a minimum viable product in March of this year.

Feedback from users informed the next iteration, which allowed funeral directors to access the online system so GPs no longer had to print off the digital forms.

For the past three months the Ministry has been working on APIs to ensure the person using the system has the required qualifications, and to connect to the National Health Index to pre-populate demographic information.

More than 1500 death certificates have now been completed online.

NMDHB's PAS implementation

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board chief executive Peter Bramley gave an interesting update on the implementation of the South Island Patient Information and Care System at the DHB in May this year. The new patient administration system replaced a legacy system that was originally implemented around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall!

More than 700,000 pieces of patient event information had to be migrated, and super users delivered more than 200 hours of training on the new system before a big bang go-live across the entire organisation.

“It was a huge risk and it went phenomenally well which is testament to team work, partnership, dedication and preparation,” said Bramley.

The system will ultimately be used by all five DHBs across the South Island. Bramley said the South Island Alliance of DHBs working together on IT has not always been an easy journey, but there is a fundamental commitment to finding solutions together.

Clinician burn-out

Canterbury District Health Board clinical IT lead Saxon Connor said technology, if deployed well, can help with clinician burnout, which is “as high as it’s ever been”, and the suicide rate among healthcare professionals, which is also increasing.

International research has shown that the second most common concern among clinical staff is the implementation of electronic medical record systems, which can be hugely stressful and make clinicians’ jobs harder. More than half of EMR roll-outs do not show any return on investment.

“We need to be sure that as we transform we are not alienating and decimating our workforce,” Connor said.

ADHB does e-prescribing

Auckland District Health Board’s Chris Lodge spoke about the implementation of e-prescribing at four re-enablement wards (older person’s care) over 2016 and 2017 and said the implementation has shown both measurable and non-measurable benefits.

However, he warned that it is important to clearly define what is going to be measured pre- and post-pilot and ensure the new processes are embedded before trying to measure outcomes.

“We designed reports before we fully understood the system and what we actually needed, so the post measures required a lot of manual work, but it was still much quicker than paper,” he told the audience.

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Picture:IBM Global Healthcare chief nursing officer Judy Murphy speaking at the HiNZ Conference 2018

“Digital transformation is coming to health: we are getting close to the end of the curve of disappointment and we are going to see rapid change in the next few years.” Saxon Connor, e-clinical health lead, Canterbury District Health Board

“The most important thing to get digital transformation in health is accepting it’s about a cultural transformation and revolution. We have to change the way we think and therefore the way we act.” Lloyd McCann, head of digital health, Healthcare Holdings

“You give patients information and with information comes power.” Judy Murphy, chief nursing officer, IBM Global Healthcare, USA

“Advances in technologies will help to achieve government priorities and find new ways of solving problems in a patient-centred way that makes a real difference to our health system.” David Clark, Minister of Health

“Clinicians are the most complex customers on the planet [for IT].” Richard Corbridge, chief digital and information officer, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, UK

“I have yet to see any [IT] strategy or policy that achieves even 50 per cent of what it sets out to do.” Lesley Holdsworth, clinical lead for digital health and care, Scottish Government, UK

"Medications taken as prescribed kill more people than diabetes." Andrew Winnington, managing director Precision Medicine International 

“It’s really important to look for our mistakes. I wonder whether this is what we need for digital health – do we need to actively seek out our failures and do we need to be bold about them?” Ruth Large, chair, NZ Telehealth Leadership Group

“It’s a fact that the first GPs and Health Care Homes are now live in the environment using Snomed and their businesses are not falling apart – it’s working.” Alastair Kenworthy, Ministry of Health

"It's not about money, we have plenty of money in the system and at least 20 percent could be used better. It's about people, culture, leadership, collaboration and action," Scott Arrol, chief executive NZ Health IT

“We don’t value patients’ time in healthcare.” Kate Reid, digital health director, Deloitte

“It [the implementation of SI PICS] literally had the potential to bring our health system to its knees.” Peter Bramley, chief executive, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board

“Healthcare technology is so weak relative to technology in the rest of our lives that the innovation or presence and impact of tech titans and the hundreds and hundreds of start-ups in this space is inevitable.” Eric Topol, executive vice president, Scripps Translational Science Institute, USA

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Pictures: Richard Corbridge presents Gareth Beaumont of Volpara Solutions with the International Health IT Solution award (top right picture) and Sense Medical clinical lead Chris Rumball with the NZ Health IT Solution award (second picture), while Sabrina Tkatch receives the Sysmex Award for Health Informatics from Colin McKenzie (third picture), and Angela de Zwart holds the Robyn Carr Cup for Excellence in Nursing Informatics that she won (bottom picture).

Four prestigious digital health awards were presented to excited winners at the HiNZ Conference 2018 in Wellington on 21 November.

In the NZHIT Innovation Awards, Wellington company Volpara Solutions won the International Health IT Solution category for its application of artificial intelligence to detect early signs of breast cancer.

The company’s software analyses breast density using x-rays and has been proven to improve cancer detection as well as patient experience and safety.

Chief architect at Volpara Gareth Beaumont was overwhelmed and very pleased to have the company named as a finalist and then as the winner. He says it is recognition of the hard work of the Volpara team in Wellington and around the world.

Sense Medical won the NZ Health IT Solution category for the development of the Cortex care coordination app at Canterbury District Health Board.

Cortex has contributed to a 20 per cent reduction in the length of stays at Christchurch Hospital’s general surgical department and a 12.5 per cent reduction in readmission.

Sense Medical clinical lead Chris Rumball says the award is validation for what the company has been doing in collaboration with CDHB and shows the power of close collaboration between a health provider that supports innovation, clinicians and a vendor with clinical expertise.

NZHIT chief executive Scott Arrol says 25 entries were submitted for the awards and the  judges commented on the high levels of innovation shown across all the entries.

The Sysmex Award for Health Informatics went to Sabrina Tkatch. The award is open to third year Bachelor of Health Science students at The University of Auckland.

This year the students were asked “How can we use ‘big data’ generated by health services to create interventions that improve clinical care?”

Tkatch’s entry proposed an app focused on youth mental health in New Zealand and the reduction of barriers young people can experience in accessing help. The app also aimed to be a reliable and authentic source of mental health data that could shape current and future mental health policies.

“I’m overwhelmed and surprised that I won. I’m really glad that I did because it’s an important cause that’s close to my heart,” says Tkatch.

The Robyn Carr Cup for Excellence in Nursing Informatics was awarded to Angela de Zwart, a clinical consultant at Orion Health.

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Picture: Ministry of Health chief technology and digital services officer Ann-Marie Cavanagh presenting at the HiNZ Conference 2017. 

Clinicians are the biggest driver in the growth of the HiNZ Conference, with the 2018 event expected to be the biggest yet, says HiNZ chief executive Kim Mundell.

Around 1000 delegates are expected at this year’s HiNZ Conference, running from Wednesday 21 November to Friday 23 November.

The event, held at Wellington’s TSB Arena and Shed 6, will also boast its largest ever exhibition hall, with 93 booths, and over 200 speakers.

Mundell says the growth of the conference year on year shows that digital health has moved out of the early adopter stage and into the mainstream.

Clinicians in particular are fuelling the growth in delegate numbers, she says.

“It’s no longer a niche subject that you have a few clinicians engage with – it’s now mainstream and part of everyday healthcare.”

Twelve international keynote speakers from the UK, US, Brazil, Hong Kong and Australia will speak on topics ranging from digitising patient records to artificial intelligence in healthcare and the role of smartphones in cancer research.

Keynote speaker Richard Corbridge was the former CIO of the Irish Health Service Executive and was named in 2017 as the “most disruptive tech or digital leader” in the European Union by Sir Richard Branson and Steve Wozniak.

He says an electronic health record is the key to efficiency and transparency and the only way a healthcare system can be integrated.

“Ireland was the first country in Europe to present a business case for a digital health system that included not just the traditional IT cost but also the cost of business change – the cost of ensuring not just the technology was procured, but that the cost of ensuring benefit gained was figured into the project,” he says.

“The citizens of New Zealand deserve a modern healthcare system that is built upon information. The ability to return information about patients to them to aid with their own health and wellness should be a modern expectation of the health system.”

Fellow UK-based keynote Lesley Holdsworth is the Scottish Government’s clinical lead for digital health and care and has been named both Scottish Digital Impact Leader of the Year and UK Digital Team Leader in 2018.

She is driving digitisation of Scotland’s patient records and benchmarking it against global frontrunners and says New Zealanders should embrace their medical records going digital, not fear it.

“There are many benefits to us all as both patients and citizens of having EHRs. These include ensuring that information about us is accurate, up to date and can be easily shared with both us and those who need to have this information,” Holdsworth says.

The HiNZ conference also includes a one-day eHealth Nursing and an eAllied Health event.

To read more about the HiNZ Conference 2018 click here >>

To read more about eHealth Nursing 2018 click here >>

To read more about eAllied Health 2018 click here >>

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The full programme for HiNZ 2018 is now available to view. This year has an exceptional line up of international keynote speakers and over 170 case studies and research projects, plus the largest digital health exhibition in New Zealand, and educational workshops prior to the main conference. At HiNZ, you network with leaders in digital health and learn the latest from global experts.

• Meet the speakers
• View over 80 exhibition booths
• Make new connections

Read more about the HiNZ Conference
View the list of pre-conference workshops
Download the programme

Source: HiNZ media release, 16 July 2018

Sector updates are provided by organisations to eHealthNews.nz and have not necessarily been edited or checked for accuracy. Any queries should be directed to the organisation issuing the release.

Do you have an item to add to sector updates?

Email your information to us at updates@hinz.org.nz

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