For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews
2024 Digital Health Week conference
Last week’s Health Informatics New Zealand 2024 Digital Health Week Conference at Hamilton’s Claudelands Events Centre drew leaders from the health IT sector and a diverse range of exhibitors.
While Te Whatu Ora IT cutbacks cast a somewhat sombre shadow, the HiNZ event still drew a strong turnout and an engaging lineup of speakers.
The conference ran from 3 December to 5 December and had a packed programme. Te Whatu Ora commissioner Lester Levy, acting chief information technology officer Darren Douglass and Tend founder Cecilia Robinson all spoke on the first day, Professor Levy by Zoom. Health minister Shane Reti (virtual) and University of Cambridge clinical professor in AI in radiology Raj Jena spoke on day two.