New Zealand Health Innovation Awards' Popular
Interest in this year's inaugural New Zealand Health Innovation Awards is growing fast.
Applications for the awards - a joint ACC/Ministry of Health initiative - close on October 25 and the awards' website
has already attracted 43 expressions of interest and 100 people have signed-up for regular updates.
"The initial turnout has been fantastic given that applications opened just two weeks ago," said Ministry of Health
spokesperson Dr Colin Feek.
"We're now encouraging people to get in quick with their expressions of interest. No innovation is too big or too small
- we want to recognise and celebrate any innovations that make a difference to healthcare in New Zealand," said Dr Feek,
Deputy Director-General Clinical Services.
The deadline for formal applications is 5.30pm on Friday 25 October 2002.
The Awards recognise the success and contribution made by the country's most innovative health providers. Individuals,
groups and organisations working across the health sector including public health, accident and emergency care, general
practice, community care, primary care and rehabilitation are invited to enter.
Applicants can fill out the Expression of Interest form at www.healthinnovationawards.co.nz and email or post it
directly to the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation at info@nzbef.org.nz or Private Bag 92 138 Auckland Mail
Centre.
The Awards will celebrate the outstanding efforts dedicated health providers make to New Zealanders' treatment, care and
recovery.
Besides acknowledging and rewarding the achievements of health innovators, a key aim of the Awards is to promote the
sharing of innovative products, services and processes.
There are three entry categories: * Individual: 1-5 people * Group: 5-20 people * Organisation: 20 or more people.
The winner of each category will receive a certificate and a cash prize of $8000 and will be eligible to win the Supreme
Award of $15,000. A popular choice award of $5000 will also be presented.
Winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa on 23 April 2003.
Patients, consumers and community groups as well as health providers who want to nominate someone else or some other
group or organisation for the Awards are also invited to fill out one of the expression of interest forms.
The innovation may be an advance in technology systems or in new processes, products or services which improve patient
care or rehabilitation. A team of independent evaluators will select the finalists who will be invited to submit a more
detailed application.
The team of evaluators and an independent panel of judges will then assess the final application forms. They may decide
to make site visits to help them scrutinise entries.
The evaluators will look for innovations that show evidence of being: * Researched and analysed to determine feasibility
* Effectively led * Well-planned and implemented * Able to be managed effectively * Evaluated and improved to meet
stakeholder needs * Successful and sustainable