The world is advancing in rapid speed and industries need to keep up to date with this advancement. The latest technology has allowed many positive changes to take place in the healthcare system in New Zealand.

In such conditions, the government, including the department of healthcare of New Zealand has taken measures to work with a vision for the healthcare industry for 2024 and beyond.

Medfuture stays in close touch with the evolving technological advancements to make the best decisions with regard to healthcare recruitment in New Zealand in 2024.

What is the Vision for health technology in New Zealand for 2024?

Health service in New Zealand are being transformed by emerging and advancing technologies. These advancements have changed what, when, where, and how healthcare services are provided as well as who does the same.

The vision for health technology in New Zealand sets the direction of healthcare and disability services in the country which are needed to take into the future. It outlines how people see technology shaping the way New Zealand citizens live healthy and well in the future.

What are the nine themes of the vision?

The vision for health technology in New Zealand was developed with input from more than 70 healthcare professionals and consumers across the country. Health technology related workshops were health across New Zealand, including in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. The nine themes of the vision were finally developed as a result of these workshops, engagement, and collaborations.

Following are the nine themes of the vision for health technology in New Zealand in 2024.

Life-centered

The life-centered module of health technology empowers people to succeed by completely participating in their healthcare. Citizens of the country are believed to be” health smart”, which means that they have access to and know all of the health details that they require. Traditional and non-traditional health, social, and other additional services and details are combined with an individual’s circle of care. New Zealanders connect with healthcare services in a manner that best fits their daily lives.

Informed choice

New Zealanders make informed decisions about healthcare and social services that work best so that they can access details to help them make the correct choices. It focuses on individuals having access to and control over who has access to their health data. Citizens can select health services depending on cost and convenience. Health services are highly convenient with virtual choices available to everyone through a variety of technologies.

Closer to me

Healthcare services are provided nearer to where people live, work, learn, and play. It is an investment in healthcare services that does not create inequity for consumers. It provides improved access to technology, removing isolation as individuals and communities are highly connected. People have confidence that they have access to enhanced healthcare coupled with advanced technology.

Sustained change & innovation

The New Zealand healthcare system takes advantage of the chances offered by advanced and emerging technologies that are improving healthcare services and enabling people to live well. A digitally enabled healthcare workforce that embraces the use and benefit of advanced technology that has a positive impact on the way New Zealanders live and work.

This vision supports various flexible healthcare services and maximize the use of advanced technology. It helps identify and develop effective healthcare innovations across the system. This technological change add value to the country’s healthcare services and makes it sustainable.

Value for New Zealand

Technological advancements in the healthcare sector are improving New Zealanders’ experience of care, health status, and best-value use of health resources. Value is evaluated and data is used to drive decision-making opportunities that will lead to enhanced performance.

Investment focuses on inequities in education and knowledge, access to health services, and connectivity to technology. Social factors of health outcomes include housing, income, and education, which support proactive intervention.

Collaborative care

Health, support and social services, and technology function in combination in highly-trusted system that operates together with the individual at the centre of care. The use of advanced technology improves people’s navigation of the collaborative healthcare system and the choices taken in this regard. Technology also eliminates social and geographical limitations.

Responsive, predictive, and personalized

Health technology in NZ vision responds dynamically to changing requirements, knowing an individual’s preference, and foresees their necessities. People participate as full partners in their respective health status. Information about people and their health status are used to customize and personalize health services to suit each person. Technology and real-time information drive rapid enhancement and change.         

Actionable insights

Information and advanced technology enhance evidence-based choices. Health information from people and communities are used to inform health planning and solve problems related to inequities. Real-time information from difference consumer, health, and social sources informs proactive monitoring, actions, and interventions for people and populations. Proactive monitoring and information analysis drives consistent enhancement and supports a culture of knowledge and education within healthcare services.

Accessible trusted information

Health data is accurate, reliable, secure, and accessible when and where it is required. New Zealanders have complete access to their health data and can provide or deny access to others. A variety of technologies are available for this purpose.

Healthcare accessibility standards allow technology to work in collaboration to make things easy for everyone. They also allow for the sharing of health data based on a common and understandable language.

Looking to the future of healthcare in New Zealand

In such context, people wonder how digital healthcare will look like by 2026. How will individuals get in touch with their doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers? What type of medical equipment, devices, and applications will be available to people, healthcare workers, innovators, and researchers?

Consumer

Consumers feel supported and feel that they are in control of their health and related data using a range of wearable devices and telehealth tools. Access to their health data are controlled by themselves and audited to ensure confidentiality and privacy. Monitoring health tools alerts people about potential health issues they may be having. AI healthcare assistants provide health data translation, including reminders about medicine schedules. Remote healthcare is provided through large healthcare centers, providing equal healthcare to everyone in New Zealand.

Community Nurse

AI assistants recalls a nurse’s schedule, including any change requests from patients and clients. As a nurse narrates a patient’s assessment, mobile apps are programmed to automatically load each patient’s care plan which everyone in the care team to be able to view. Automated systems provide nurses with more time to spend with their patients.

Doctor

Doctors use technology to help guide patients through their routine healthcare requirements provided virtually to them at a place that they prefer. Virtual clinics allow for doctors to spend time in virtual clinics delivering healthcare via technology in a patient’s residence or aged care facility. Tests and investigations can be done through wearable devices and prescriptions can be produced by 3D printers.

Innovator – Developer

Innovators and developers connect with consumers to get their input and feedback on their thoughts on healthcare technology in New Zealand. It gives a higher market share for startup healthcare businesses that are able to be agile and do changes as required. Systems that are developed are all approved by international standards. Consumers control their health data and can select which healthcare systems that they have access to for specific information. They have the option of providing developers with access to their health data. New apps that are developed must be registered with an approved service that verifies if it meets the necessary requirements.

Researcher

Researchers have access to a wide array of datasets given access for research purposes given by consumers that have control over their data. Data collection is done via real-time operating devices like coffee makers, cell phones, lamps, and wearable devices. It could also be done via clinical records and surveillance tools. Research work helps create dynamic models instead of static snapshots.

Data and digital: Reshaping New Zealand’s healthcare future

A 2023 survey in the healthcare sector unveiled concerned regarding the future of New Zealand’s healthcare, which includes longer waiting time for physician appointments that leads to a decline in health results, especially in children. Health reforms concerning this include enhancing vaccination rates, expediting cancer treatment options, and reducing waiting times for specialist appointments and surgeries.

Reforming the health system

Reforming the health system involves creating a system that:

Meets the demands and needs of the growing population

Uses advanced technology to develop innovative ways of delivering health care

Addresses the continuous inequalities experienced by the indigenous communities Medfuture continuously stays updated on the latest developments in technology related to healthcare recruitment. Visit the Medfuture website to view a list of the latest healthcare jobs available.