NZ National Data Platform expected in June
The third phase of Te Whatu Ora’s National Data Platform (NDP) project, which includes construction and implementation, is expected to be completed by June 2024.
This phase also includes the migration of priority datasets (seven of which are already in development), planning for the migration of complex datasets, the transition to business-as-usual and developing a data catalog for national collections.
This update came as part of the organisation’s response, together with the Ministry of Health and Te Aka Whai Ora, to an independent review of the implementation of reforms in New Zealand’s healthcare system. Findings have revealed that Te Whatu Ora, the consolidated organization that replaced the previous 20 district health boards, continues to rely on manual data collection for reporting purposes. It was also noted that work is needed to standardize the national data set.
“The intention is to standardize and automate data collection, but this will take some time. Work on the implementation plan must now be a priority to ensure that robust data and information is accessible at all levels of the system are,” the assessment said. read.
“While some manual processes still exist, Health NZ is now in a much stronger position as a single entity to understand system information and performance, with flow-on benefits for planning and performance improvement,” Te Whatu Ora said in response.
Te Whatu Ora before has contracted Accenture as an implementation partner for the NDP.
API standards for the NZ health sector
Te Whatu Ora Data and Digital recently announced the release of the first API standards for the New Zealand healthcare sector.
The standards have been reviewed by a technical standards community on GitHub and include guidelines and expectations for API design and development and API security. These are expected to promote interoperability, data sharing and innovation within the healthcare ecosystem.
“These are a technical guide to delivering and implementing a modern API service. They provide the foundation that the industry can use to provide a more consistent and reliable approach to delivering health information services,” said Hira program director Gerard Keenan .
The current financial position of Australian aged care is hindering innovation: report
Financial viability issues within Australian aged care are hindering innovation, including the adoption of IT-based fall prevention and monitoring solutions.
“(T)here is support for innovation, but there was also concern that innovation is a synonym for ‘efficiency’ and cost savings. Current financial viability issues are a barrier to innovation, including where innovation would enable suppliers to improve the quality and quantity of the income they receive,” the Aged Care Taskforce said in its final report.
Boosting innovation is one of the recommendations of the taskforce, which was set up to advise on funding schemes for the sector.
“The Taskforce supports addressing viability and sustainability issues as these are a prerequisite for an innovative culture,” the report said.