Canterbury Leading The Way Nationally In Health Technology

Media Release
From: Health Informatics New Zealand (HINZ)
23 April 2013

Canterbury Leading The Way Nationally In Health Technology

Leadership by Canterbury’s health sector in the application of health technology has been recognised by national professional organisation Health Informatics NZ. HINZ will run a special seminar in Christchurch on 8th May to showcase the innovation taking place in the region for it’s national member base.

“Canterbury has been catapulted to national prominence in the application of technology in healthcare environments to improve people’s health outcomes,” HINZ Chair Liz Schoff says.

Part of this success has been driven by the need to find urgent solutions to communication and information access issues within the sector after the earthquakes - proving the adage that necessity is the mother of invention. However, the health sector in Canterbury had a position of national leadership well before the earthquakes.

The HINZ seminar will demonstrate innovation from the region including better coordination of care through communication among primary, secondary and community providers, patient-supportive services for cancer sufferers using cloud-based computing, and professional development for health professionals in remote settings. Speakers will include representatives of the Canterbury and West Coast District Health Boards, Nurse Maude, the Cancer Society, Cholmondeley Children’s Charity, and the Canterbury University School of Health.

Health informatics includes the use of IT for the delivery and support of health services. However it goes a lot further into technologies specifically designed to improve health outcomes.

“For health informatics to reach its true potential, close collaboration among doctors, nurses, allied health workers, health managers and planners as well as IT specialists is required,” said Liz. “All of these groups have contributed to the progress in Canterbury, and all are represented in the membership of HINZ. Canterbury’s success is an example of people from a range of professions working constructively together.”

The seminar will be held at EPIC on Wednesday 8 May. To register for this event, and obtain a press pass contact Linda McKay admin@hinz.org.nz

ENDS

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