Horst, you have asked the following questions.... Does (NZs high level of GP automation) translate into better health outcome? By what benchmark? If not, does it translate into cost savings while equal outcome?
Health systems are very difficult to compare. Are there any figures from within the NZ health system what difference the high level of integration made to outcome and/or cost as compared to before? Genuinely interested - so far we all fantasize about the benefits we might reap if we integrate everything well, but it would be so nice to get some real life evidence that there is some substance behind our assumption. I understand that a recently published OECD report (within the last month) links NZs high degree of primary-care automation with better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs and I will make it my business to find that information and present it in the near future. I did notice that when I was at an International symposium in Quebec in June this year, I presented what New Zealand GPs were able to do electronically, there was a lot of envy among those present from other countries. Some of the facilities available to NZ GPs include; Fully HL7 pathology and radiology reporting (used by 95% of practices) 2.5 million referrals and discharge summaries annually (from a population of 4 million) National child immunisation system (100% electronic) National diabetes screening (all electronic) Widespread use of online decision support (a choice of systems is available) Web services infrastrucure for online enquiries to secure databases (synchronous HL7 and web services security) Web forms based electronic referrals to public hospitals (just launched) 100% coverage of national PKI infrastructure I do know from an international study that having this level of automation can save GPs an hour a day, I also believe that NZs child immunisatrion rates have increased and deaths from menigococcal infections (which previously caused a large number of fatalities) have plummeted since the national child immunisation system went in. But I will get some hard facts and get back to you. Kind regards, Tom Bowden CEO HealthLink
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