Message from the Chair of HiNZ-NMI
Welcome to the next edition of the HiNZ-NMI newsletter
Planning is well underway for the next eHealth Nursing and Midwifery workshop/conference day, in associate with Health Informatics NZ. Please contact us if you have any ideas or contributions that you would like to make. Digital Health Week this year is 24th - 27th November in Christchurch. You can find our more information about it here.
Emma Collins (@emma.collins)
Chair of HiNZ Nursing & Midwifery Informatics Special Interest Group (HiNZ-NMI)
HiNZ-NMI Updates and News
Obituary - Sheree Fairhurst (nee East)
Sheree Fairhurst was a leader in clinical informatics. Her most significant contribution to the profession was the development and use of clinical information systems, the development of HealthOne and the use of telehealth in community care. These demonstrated her impressive ability for research, development and collaboration. She was also instrumental in bringing the international Omaha System taxonomy to NZ and working with private enterprise and government agencies to have a NZ version developed. Sheree’s efforts were recognised in 2025 at the Health Informatics NZ (HINZ) Conference, when she was awarded the Robyn Carr Spirit Cup for her contribution to nursing informatics in NZ. Sheree lost her battle with cancer on 30th March, 2025.
You can read more about Sheree Fairhurst
Sheree East Obituary.pdf (234.4 KB)
The Future is AI
Kate Yeo
“Intelligent Healthcare and the Democratisation of Health Data” is a document produced by Deloitte Centre for Health Solutions in 2024. It outlines ways in which AI supports health systems, clinical staff, and health service users, and makes predictions for the future. The following is a summary of the document. You can read the full publication here.
1. Virtual Care and Digital-First Triaging
- AI-Enabled operational Centres: These centres use AI to manage patient flow, admissions, and discharge processes, ensuring that patients receive timely and appropriate care.
- Digital Biomarkers and Real-Time Monitoring: AI integrates data from biosensors and wearables into electronic health records (EHRs), enabling continuous monitoring and early intervention based on real-time health data.
2. Personalized Treatment Plans
- GenAI-Powered Data Insights: AI analyses data from multiple sources, including patient-reported outcomes and biometric data, to create personalized treatment plans that are predictive, proactive, and precise.
- Virtual Agents and GenAI Coaches: These tools provide patients with customized care plans and reminders, ensuring adherence to treatment protocols and adjusting care based on real-time performance data.
3. Enhanced Clinical Decision-Making
- AI in Diagnostics: AI assists clinicians in diagnosing conditions more accurately and quickly by analysing complex data sets, including genomic information, and imaging results.
- GenAI Co-Pilots: These tools help clinicians track patient health in real-time, integrating data from wearables, lab results, and other sources to support informed medical decisions.
4. Improved Patient Engagement and Experience
- AI Chatbots and Assistants: AI-powered chatbots help patients navigate healthcare settings, clarify medical language, schedule appointments, and manage treatment processes, enhancing patient engagement and satisfaction.
- Personalized Coaching: AI provides personalized health coaching, helping patients manage their health conditions and adhere to treatment plans through continuous support and real-time feedback.
5. Population Health Management
- Predictive Analytics: AI identifies population health risks and enables early intervention through connected care and community hubs, focusing on prevention and reducing the need for reactive hospital care.
- Data Integration and Interoperability: AI improves the interoperability and quality of health data, ensuring that comprehensive and accurate information is available to all care providers, supporting coordinated and effective care.
6. Operational Efficiency and Resource Management
- Automated Scheduling and Logistics: AI optimizes the scheduling of patient transport, food, medication, and sample planning, improving productivity and patient satisfaction.
- Workforce Planning: AI-enabled workforce planning and scheduling improve staff allocation and productivity, ensuring that healthcare providers can deliver care efficiently and effectively.
7. Ethical and Secure Data Management
- Ethical AI Frameworks: Robust governance and ethical AI frameworks ensure that AI applications in healthcare comply with quality, safety, and privacy regulations, maintaining patient trust and data security.
What is missing? When reading this document there is no challenge to health professions to review how they practice and use technology to enable to patients to better inform the care they receive. This document does, however, give food for thought.
Anyone doing closed loop medication administration?
Kia ora koutou katoa,
My name is Cristine Burnside, Clinical Nurse Specialist – Health Informatics and eMeds systems supervisor in Te Whatu Ora – Taranaki. I am currently doing background research on implementation of Closed Loop Medication Administration. I would like to reach out to anyone who have done any research on this space or have successfully implemented part of CLMA e.g. positive patient identification, barcoding etc. I would love to hear from you and have a kōrero / hui.
I can be contacted through my email: Cristine.Burnside@tdhb.org.nz.
HIMSS - Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
HIMSS is a global organisation that has dedicated of 60 years to the health community. They are committed to reforming the global health ecosystem through the power of informaiton and technology.
Their mission is to reform the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology.
HiNZ is an organizational member with HIMSS. That means that if you are a HiNZ member, you are also a HIMSS member.
You can read their latest research here.
AI diabetes screening pilot launches in South Auckland
An artificial intelligence (AI) diabetes retinal screening pilot programme aimed at improving screening rates for Pacific community in South Auckland has been launched by Health Minister Simeon Brown.
The pilot programme involves trained community workers from seven general practices in South Auckland taking retinal images of patients living with diabetes, including those who may be waiting for a hospital appointment.
Read more about it here in eHealthNews.
Healthify App
Healthify is Aotearoa New Zealand’s go-to source for trusted easy-to-understand health information and self-help resources.
Health Navigator says that this app gives people free access to trusted health resources anytime, anywhere. They state that it is a great tool to recommend to patients, helping them stay informed with reliable content at their fingertips.
New publications from the Nursing and Midwifery Community of Practice
Latest edition of the IMIA NI Newsletter.
IMIA Nursing Informatics (NI) March 2025.pdf (2.2 MB)
If you haven’t already, you can request to join their LinkedIn group here.
Interesting read
Opportunity to be involved in a consultation
The Government is inviting New Zealanders to share their views on health workforce regulation.
For more information, visit this website:
Learning and Development
Upcoming Events
National events
https://hinz.eventsair.com/dhwnz24/home-2025
Please let us know if you have any other news or events to share as a reply to this post.
International events
Please let us know if you have any other news or events to share as a reply to this post.
About HiNZ-NMI
The HiNZ nursing & midwifery informatics special interest group (HiNZ-NMI) supports the development of nursing informatics in New Zealand. HiNZ-NMI meets on the eHealth Forum and publishes a free eNewsletter with digital health updates of relevance to nurses.
Was this forwarded to you?
Join the eHealth Forum to receive it directly.
What is nursing informatics?
Nursing Informatics science and practice integrates nursing, its information and knowledge and their management with information and communication technologies to promote the health of people, families and communities world-wide.