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

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

Why the Ministry supports an ICT Proposal  Ala Mo’ui – Pathways to Pacific Health and Wellbeing  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),

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)

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.

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

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.

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

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, Effect was more devastating. Three months later the work premises are still within the cordoned area with no expectation of return.

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.