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.”
Keynote
speakers include:
Rob Campbell, Te Whatu Ora –
Health NZ, Board Chair
Stuart Bloomfield, Te Whatu Ora
– Health NZ, interim Chief Data and Digital
Paula
Tesoriero, Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People, Chief
Executive
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