IT And Health Join At Conference

IT And Health Join At Conference

Largest gathering of health management and information technology experts join hands at inaugural conference

Auckland, NEW ZEALAND, 4 August 2003 ? For the first time in New Zealand, health management professionals will join information technology experts in Auckland from 6-8 August to discuss how they can work together to improve the quality of healthcare.

The New Zealand Institute of Health Management (NZIHM) will team with Health Informatics New Zealand (HINZ), the New Zealand Health Information Technology Cluster (NZHITC), and the New Zealand Health Level 7 User Group (NZHUG) to host the "Health New Zealand Conference and Exhibition 2003" at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The event builds on last year's inaugural and highly successful HINZ Conference. The Ministry of Health, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and several leading health information technology companies are sponsoring the event.

Minister of Health Annette King will deliver the opening address, which will be followed by an impressive line-up of local and international presentations, case studies and vendor demonstrations centred on the theme, "advancing knowledge for quality healthcare."

International speakers include experts from Yale's Centre for Medical Informatics, University of California San Francisco's Cancer Centre, Harvard Medical School, and the Australian health system. Local presentations from the Ministry of Health, District Health Boards, hospitals, and universities will demonstrate New Zealand's capability to deliver world-class health information solutions.

"The rapid development of technology means that clinicians have better access to complex health information that helps them deliver the right care at the right time in the right place," says Ms King. "It is critical that all members of the health sector -- including policymakers, medical professionals, business managers and technology vendors -- work together to ensure this information is transformed into knowledge that will improve the quality of healthcare delivery in New Zealand."

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise CEO, Tim Gibson, says this event will also be a unique display of the country's top talent, with some of New Zealand's most innovative software vendors demonstrating their systems at the conference exhibition.

"Health New Zealand 2003 is truly a showcase of New Zealand innovation," says Mr Gibson. "These companies are delivering world-class information management solutions that are making a difference to healthcare delivery at home and overseas."

Revenue generated from New Zealand health information technology companies was $38 million in 2001, with this figure expected to soar to a cumulative total of more than $5 billion by 2010, a significant proportion of which will be from exports.

The proceedings from Health New Zealand 2003 will be combined with those from Australia's Health Informatics Conference, taking place in Sydney the following week. The conjoint publication will highlight the region's potential to host the International Medical Informatics Association's "Medinfo 2007," a conference that draws thousands of health professionals together every three years.

For more information on Health New Zealand Conference and Exhibition 2003, including a detailed program of speakers and events, please visit http://www.hinz.org.nz.

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