ICT Hosting Solution for Pacific providers RNZCGP Conference – 1/9/11 Dr Api Talemaitoga

1. ICT Hosting Solution for Pacific providersRNZCGP Conference – 1/9/11Dr Api Talemaitoga

2. Outline of presentation • Why the Ministry supports an ICT Proposal • Background • Importance of focusing on ICT issues • RFP Process • Case Study – Christchurch Earthquake

3. Why the Ministry supports an ICT Proposal • Ala Mo’ui – Pathways to Pacific Health and Wellbeing 2010-2014 • Serau – PPWDF Programme of Action 2009/2012 • Better, Sooner, More Convenient – Direction for Primary Care • Whanau Ora • Ministry of Health’s Statement of Intent (SOI), 2011-2014

4. Why the Ministry supports an ICT Proposal • Serau PPWDF Programme of Action 2009/2012 • Focus 1 – Workforce Development • Focus 2 – Provider Development • ICT is part of Focus 2 (PPWDF review 2009)

5. Why the Ministry supports an ICT Proposal • In July 2008 the Ministry of Health undertook an ICT review • Selected group of Maori and Pacific providers. • Purpose: analyse Maori and Pacific Health providers’ abilities to purchase, manage, and future proof their IT infrastructure. • Serious inadequacies in ICT infrastructure across Maori and Pacific providers in primary care. • Only 6/38 providers interviewed had an ICT infrastructure that is robust and meets health IT standards.

6. Why the Ministry supports an ICT Proposal • Important review findings: • In general, providers do not know what IT solutions are available; • Vendor driven – so inability of providers to ensure/realise their systems are compatible with other health system platforms and with other health providers; • The overall set up of provider server rooms is consistently inadequate and does not meet industry standards; and • Cost (set-up and ongoing) is a concern for all small health service providers

7. Why the Ministry supports an ICT Proposal • Importance of focusing on ICT issues • To address findings from ICT review and PPWDF review (2009) • To support the Government’s vision for the achievement of a strong and vibrant patient-centred health system over the next five years in primary health care. • To enable Pacific health service providers to continue to play a key role in contributing to the Government’s vision for primary health care.

8. RFP Process • April 2010 • The Ministry sought IT specialists in health, to deliver an IT solution targeting selected Pacific health service providers in the Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury regions. • 8 providers submitted proposals for the RFP process • Successful provider was ASPX-Group, now know as Cloud Region • The ‘Cloud system’ is a web-based server that allows health providers access to their information outside of the office. • 3 Pacific providers in Christchurch utilise the Cloud system

9. Case Study – Christchurch Earthquake Three locally governed and managed Pacific services in CHC: - Pacific Trust Canterbury - Tangata Atumotu Trust - Pacific Island Evaluation Inc. • September 2010 earthquake - closed area around the premises of three of the providers and disrupting service delivery. • They were regaining some equilibrium when a second earthquake struck on February 22, 2011. Effect was more devastating. • Three months later the work premises are still within the cordoned area with no expectation of return.

11. Case Study – Christchurch Earthquake • ICT • To assist providers rebuild their services, the Earthquake Recovery fund enabled support for IT infrastructure such as: • - electricity • - purchase of laptops • - other • Benefits: – The server being web-based therefore minimised the effect on service delivery for Pacific providers. These Pacific providers continued service delivery.