Like many I’m disappointed that the COVID situation has again forced the postponement of the HINZ annual conference. I’m sure the organisers are equally disappointed having put so much effort into putting together to conference.
While a national in-person conference is obviously not going to be a possibility this year, I’m wondering if there may be the opportunity to have some regional meetings and/or focussed webinars or group/panel discussions on topics to allow the flow of ideas and information to continue.
Topics I’d be interested in seeing discussed include:
Hira update
What is planned in the current phase of Hira, and likely timeframes
What is on the future roadmap for the next phases
How can clinical informaticians from around the country get involved to contribute.
Telehealth and remote patient engagement
As COVID spreads, we are going to be needing to do as much as we can outside of physical hospital or clinic buildings. What examples of success in this area can we share from NZ and elsewhere?
Health NZ update
Any updates from those working on Health NZ, in particular how it relates to Digital.
For example, how might GPs and other primary providers and the former DHBs link their service and Digital delivery under the new system.
Strategic Planning of Health IT systems
How do we come to a shared understanding of our 5 - 10 year health IT vision for healthcare IT, so that as we individually make incremental steps, we can be working towards the same goal.
Other Digital initiatives that help with the COVID response
This could include a wide variety of initiatives, so could be further sub-categorised.
Networking opportunities between DHBs or other providers to compare work on similar areas of interest
I’m sure others will have other topics as well. Please feel free to reply below to add to this list.
While this would be very different to what was originally planned in the conference, it would be great to keep the nationwide networking discussions going via virtually communication as much as possible.
Thanks to @KimMundell and the HINZ team for their efforts in putting together the conference which has now had to be cancelled, as I do feel for them!
They have put in an enormous amount of work, and it is hard to overstate how challenging it has been for all of the @HiNZ-staff crew. The other important aspect is that in-person events are vitally important for HiNZ’s bottom line.
I am delighted to report that we will soon be actively promoting the eHealth Forum via HiNZ communications and other avenues. So hopefully this can fill the void to some extent.
If anyone has an idea of how the eForum can more usefully work for everyone on this front, it would be great to hear it!
Thank you @damon for your kind words and clearly identified points of interest. I will work with HiNZ to see what we can do in the short term to update everyone on some of these key issues.
FYI - the Transition Unit are undertaking road shows to update us all, here is the info… Event details
This is a free event that runs for 90 minutes, closing with light refreshments.
The online registration and ticketing process just allows us to manage numbers so we can adapt and communicate quickly should alert levels change.
Registrations and RSVPs
Now that we’ve confirmed our arrangements with venues, we’ve also been able to extend the RSVP deadlines as follows.
Please continue to spread the word among your colleagues.
Invercargill: Mon 18 October 11am – Civic Theatre: Register here!(RSVP by midday Friday 15 Oct)
Dunedin: Tues 19 October 11am – Edgar Centre: Register here!(RSVP by midday Friday 15 Oct)
Christchurch: Thurs 21 October 1pm – Christchurch Town Hall: Register here!(RSVP by 5pm Tuesday 19 Oct)
Timaru: Fri 22 October 9.30am – Timaru Southern Trust Events Centre: Register here!(RSVP by 5pm Tuesday 19 Oct)
Nelson: Wed 27 October 9.30am – Rutherford Hotel: Register here!RSVP by 5pm Friday 22 Oct)
Greymouth: Thurs 28 October 11am – Regent Theatre: Register here!(RSVP by 5pm Friday 22 Oct)
Thanks @BeckyGeorge for this information. Is there something we Aucklanders can subscribe to so that we can be sent updates on when we can join the roadshow?
Thanks @damon and others - I’m recording a podcast episode with @BeckyGeorge Becky next week about Hira and how clinical informaticians can get involved. If you have any specific questions you would like answered (apart from those listed above) please suggest them here and I will include them in the interview. This podcast episode will be released this month.