Unique Online Health Support For Te Tai Tokerau

During February, DORA Te Waka Matihiko Hauora, a mobile
learning centre, will be touring Te Tai Tokerau helping
people join the growing numbers who are benefitting from
having online access to their health records. Since November
last year, Northlanders can view hospital discharge
summaries and clinic letters as well as the records held by
their GPs. DORA will be visiting 21 centres in Te Tai
Tokerau, promoting the benefits of online access to health
information, and supporting people get access or better use
their existing access.

36 of the 38 practices in
Northland offer an online health portal; the majority offer
Manage My Health, but Health 365 and more recently, the
Centrik portal are also being used. The trainers on DORA
will be able to help with both the Health 365 and Manage My
Health platforms.

The Digital Inclusion Alliance
Aotearoa (DIAA) has partnered with Te Whatu Ora – Te Tai
Tokerau, Mahitahi Hauora PHE, Manage My Health and Far North
District Libraries to bring DORA to Northland. Visitors to
Waitangi on 6 February will have an opportunity to visit
DORA and find out about health portals and when the bus is
going to be in their community.

Operations Director
for the Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa, Laurence
Zwimpfer, said the main goal for the visit is to ensure that
communities in Northland can learn about the benefits of
having online access to their health records. Some GPs also
enable patients to order repeat prescriptions online as well
as book appointments. This helps reduce their workload on
administrative tasks, freeing them up to provide more
patient care.

“Online health services are available
to anyone with a smartphone or tablet and internet
connection; the trainers on DORA can also help you find an
affordable internet connection if this is a problem.
Hundreds of people in Northland already benefit from the
low-cost Skinny Jump internet service,” he said.

Dr
Di Davis is the Portal Project lead for Te Whatu Ora – Te
Tai Tokerau. She encourages anyone who has questions about
accessing their hospital records to visit DORA and get the
help they need. “From November 2023, Northland consumers
have been able to view their hospital clinic letters and
discharge summaries via the Manage My Health portal.
Referral notifications are being delivered later this year.
We are also working with the other portal providers to
ensure the added value of hospital documents is available to
all consumers, irrespective of what portal their practice
offers,” she said.

People who are interested in
getting help with online health services are welcome to
visit DORA between 10am and 4pm when DORA is in your area.
No booking is needed. Just drop in and our trainers will
give you whatever help you need in using your digital
devices to connect with online health
services.

DORA’s Northland itinerary:

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