Media release from IT Health Board

Health Informatics New Zealand (HINZ), the New Zealand Health IT Cluster (NZHITC) and the National Health IT Board (IT Health Board) invite individuals or groups of clinicians (e.g., doctors, nurses, pharmacists) to submit a case illustrating an important, reoccurring problem that they face that could be solved by the innovative use of IT.  The case may describe an acute or chronic condition, or a related set of episodes, shared care, or one that requires prevention. It can have a little or a lot of family/whānau dimension - it might even focus on an aspect of administration or learning rather than direct patient care.

One case will be selected for the "Clinicians' Challenge 2010" and set as a challenge to health IT vendors to propose solutions.  The winning vendor solution will be selected at the HINZ Annual Conference and Exhibition, in Wellington on 2-4 November, and will be eligible for up to $20,000 funding from the IT Health Board towards the development of the solution.

DEADLINES
1st October        Challenge case prepared and submitted by clinicians
4th October         Winning case selected by the judging panel
5th October         Case sent to vendors to propose a solution
29th October        Solution proposals shortlisted
2nd November    Shortlisted solution proposals presented to the judging panel. Final three present at the HINZ Conference Welcome Function and winner announced.

Submit your candidate case and any queries to admin@hinz.org.nz  by NO LATER THAN
Friday 1 October, 2010.  [Cases should not exceed 300 words].  If your case is the one selected you will be awarded with:

•    HINZ membership for two years until 2012
•    Registration and one night's accommodation in Wellington to attend at the 2010 HINZ conference
•    Registration and one night's accommodation in Auckland to attend the 2011 HINZ Conference
•    $500 travel grant from the Cluster NZHITC towards attendance to a regional informatics conference in 2011
•    PLUS…and some exciting technology prizes.

Vendor submitted cases will be judged by a panel of representatives from of HINZ, NZHITC, the IT Health Board, the National Information Clinical Leadership Group, and a health consumer. The winning case will be one that encourages solutions that promote better integration of care as it relates to the primary/secondary care boundary.  Vendors can work in teams with other vendors or as individuals.

Please feel free to send this information to them.  We look forward to receiving your submission.

You may end up using the winning solution in the future.