This summit is important as it brings together some of the best and brightest in the industry, along with the learnings of public departments that have already begun their digital transformation. The sharing of these success stories and the software behind them has allowed the New Zealand public service to move to the forefront of the world charge to the digitalisation of the public service.
The New Zealand health system is one area where digital transformation has achieved amazing outcomes through the COVID pandemic, so much so that the mindset amongst the health sector has become one of ‘ the art of possible’. By embracing a cloud based culture and investing in initiatives to enable the secure sharing of health information the health sector has braved new paths toward digital operations.
There have been several noteworthy digital achievements in the public health system, from the ramping up of telehealth systems in the Waitemata DHB enabling them to provide quality health care during level 2, 3 and 4 lockdowns to the implementation of tools such as ePrescribing and eOrders, allowing doctors to order tests or send a prescription electronically.
Another achievement is the New Zealand COVID tracker app. The app was digital genius, fully cloud based and designed to facilitate contact tracing whilst keeping personal information private.
Whilst much of the digital transformation within the health industry has been a result of agile adaption to COVID conditions, it was a reactive effort to overcome digital deficiencies. This reactiveness is underpinned by a more measured approach, the implementation of Hira.
“Hira will enable access to a virtual electronic health record by drawing together a person’s latest health data from trusted sources. It will support better health for all New Zealanders, by improving the way health information is accessed and shared.”
“The programme would enable accessibility of health information from many sources and a range of digital services that empower patients and enable organisations to collaborate in the provision of person-centred care.
Hira is not about rolling out a new or updated system – it is about developing a whole new way for different data systems to connect, so a person’s health information can be provided in one place. There will be investment in new technology, and in working with the health sector on the changes needed for the technology to interact and share information.”
Source: Ministry of Health
Budget 2022 includes an investment of over $600 million, including digital capability uplift, funding for tranche 2 of the Hira programme, capitalising on COVID-19 initiatives, a digitally connected Southern health care system and investment in population health surveillance.
Chief Executive Ryl Jensen says “This funding continues from the significant investment last year; acknowledging that digital health is a critical key enabler for the new health system structure.”
The lessons learned from the public health system underpin the idea that agencies that embrace cloud based ways of doing business are at a competitive advantage, in the public system this means a more client-based way of doing business, with people and their needs the driving force, resulting in equitable access to and provision of service for all. A cloud based way of doing business is about more than a change in process or technology, it is a change in mindset and the way that organisational leaders think. Mindset is key to true transformation, as opposed to a one off project and this is where co-design can be so important.
Having the end user partner with developers in a co-design model not only produces an all-encompassing, user-friendly product it is also a product that is designed to fit the needs of the business, rather than requiring the business to fit around the product. Having the end users and stakeholders engaged during development fosters ownership and buy-in, increasing the chances that all of the eventual users will be willing to embrace the end product and accept the change that it will bring.
By working together in a partnership each party can impart their knowledge and experience to create truly customisable, boutique cloud based software that fulfills the needs of the client and their customers whilst being future proof and accessible.
AMS specialises in making highly complex and regulated environments simple. We work with some of New Zealand's largest organisations across the private and public sectors. AMS has depth of expertise in Workforce Management – including payroll, rosters and core HR in the cloud. We have already developed software that supports the payroll and HR function of numerous public agencies, including some that were developed through co-design, and we are uniquely poised to use this learning and these platforms across various public sectors.
Find out more about some of our clients and their success here or contact us today.