Kia ora koutou. I am involved in some work to set up a network for MedTech researchers and startups/companies to be able to connect with clinicians, get clinical input into development , and to get advice around clinical trials. While this has previously been mostly around devices, there is now a lot of cross over between digital and devices, and so I am wondering about a network for clinicians interested in this space - maybe as a group within the eHealth Forum? What do people think?
@NathanK I would be keen to connect and have a chat about this
Others, feel free to message me if you would be interested in being a part of something like this or have any other ideas on how to connect up clinicians around the country with MedTech interests.
Nga mihi nui
Robyn
Hi Robyn, I’d be interested in this. We’re working on the area of cross over (particularly CDSS and wearable sensors in ICUs) for our work in Vietnam - particularly around regulation and evaluation - http://vital.oucru.org
Cheers, Chris
I think that this is a really good idea, Robyn. But I must confess my ignorance of the term ‘MedTech’. Is this definition about right?
MedTech, or medical technology, is every product, service, or solution using medical technology to improve people’s health by preventing, diagnosing, monitoring, and treating disease.
from here
In my own words, the wider medical technology ecosystem of which health informatics is a vital component.
I think that this would be very suitable to have as a Category within the eHealth Forum. The challenge will be gathering up the MedTech folk that you want to have involved and ensuring that the value is tangible so that they engage meaningfully.
Do you have a good feel for MedTech and HiNZ? By this I mean how much of the HiNZ membership would identify as coming under the term ‘MedTech’, and how much would not.
Thanks Nathan. Yes i think you are correct. To date it has been a separate group more focused on medical devices - I have been a part of the MedTech Centre of Research Excellence/CMDT see here https://www.cmdt.org.nz/. But they have - by including me! and others - tried to be more inclusive of digital health as well. The CoRE is no longer funded but they have some university funding to keep the network going including the work that I and John Windsor are leading to establish a clinical network.
I dont really have a feel for how many in this network would also be keen - it would be good to get the word out and get some feedback on that , as well as bring in some new clinicians into our fold hopefully. Any thoughts?
great, thanks Chris, will definitely include you.
Hi Robyn
I’m interested to know more about what you are trying to achieve.
My interest is in the clinical webapps area. I’ve started my research around how digital technology can play a big part in the clinicians and patients lives.
Happy to chat more offline on this.
Cheers
Charlene
Well, it would be a delight to host discussions about Medical Tech here in the eHealth Forum and allow those with interest to jump in. There are many ways it could work, depending on the level of visibility and interactivity that you are after.
Very happy to have a chat with you (and any other interested parties) about how to make this happen if useful.
Hi all
Thanks very much to Nathan, we have set up a new MedTech group on this Forum. To start with there is a general one and a clinicians one - this is because we really want to attract clinicians of all sorts to join the conversation/network and are not sure if they might want a space to discuss new ideas with colleagues without companies in the conversation. If it is not needed, we can merge later. There will obviously be a lot of cross over with this forum, so please feel free to follow/join. There are many others we are aware of in the medical devices and technologies space who are not part of CILN, so we will be inviting a bunch of them directly. If you are aware of others, please let them know. This is being supported by the HealthTech Capability Programme
including an Expert Advisory Group on clinical trials that is led by my and John Windsor - I will post some info on that in the MedTech stream for those who are interested. In short, we can link you up with industry partners, academics, trials or other clinical groups, for anything to do with medical technology! So feel free to reach out through the forum for links/connections that you might want.