Action Zones Overview

Introducing HISAC’s Initial Views of the HIS-NZ Action Zones

Action Zones Introduction (PDF, 410 KB)
Action Zones powerpoint (Powerpoint, 798 KB)
If we want to work ‘smarter’ then better information is our lifeblood.

Decision making occurs in all areas of the sector, and appropriate information needs to be available at the right time and place and in the right format.

… now we want to know what YOU think

The Health Information Strategy for New Zealand(HIS-NZ) states that “To get better outcomes for New Zealanders, the delivery of health and disability services in New Zealand need s focus on working ‘smarter’. If we want to work ‘smarter’ then better information is our lifeblood.

Better patient health information, at the ‘point of care’ can greatly assist health professionals in delivering health outcomes.

To make effective, informed decisions about targeting services, planning and funding agencies need quality information.

Decision making occurs in all areas of the sector, and appropriate information needs to be available at the right time and place and in the right format.”

Health Information Strategy for New Zealand (HIS-NZ)

The Health Information Strategy for New Zealand is not just a policy initiative where recommendations can be noted and implementation passed to the IT specialists.

This document presents a key business strategy for the sector, as improved health information management is an integral part of achieving health and disability outcomes for New Zealanders. In an increasingly collaborative health and disability sector it is through coordination and sharing that we realise the true value of information - that it grows more valuable as we give it away.

Hon Annette King


HIS-NZ was developed under the guidance of a sector-wide steering committee that included representation from primary care, non-govern­mental organisations, the Health Information Standards Organisation, ACC, and the Ministry of Health.

HIS-NZ provides sector-wide directions on how to improve the quality and availability of health information for delivery at point-of-care and in future planning.

The Action Zones

A feature of HIS-NZ is the ‘Action Zones’ it identifies. These are areas where focused effort will enable its implementation. They will help to target activity across the sector and across different government agencies to improve information systems capability to ultimately help the sector to improve health outcomes.

Health Information Strategy Action Committee (HISAC)

The Health Information Strategy Action Committee (HISAC) is a Ministerial Advisory Committee that reports directly to the Minister of Health.

HISAC was established to provide governance, oversight, and sector leadership to implement the strategy in the Health and Disability sector.

Two key features of HISAC are that its members have leadership experience, and sector expertise and understanding; and it is an ‘action’ committee.

HISAC is chaired by Paul Cressey and its members are:

• Debbie Chin
• Chai Chuah
• Tony Cooke
• Julian Inch
• Tim Gardner
• Helmut Modlik
• Harry Pert
• Andrea Pettett
• David Rankin
• Jason Whakaari

Members’ profiles and information on how you can engage can be found on the HISAC website: www.HISAC.govt.nz. Or email feedback or enquiries to the committee at enquiries@HISAC.govt.nz.

HISAC has 3 sub-committees

HISAC Action Zone process

HISAC’s role in providing governance, leadership and oversight of the implementation of the Strategy includes:

• working with the sector to remove barriers to implementing the Strategy and the Action Zones
• advising on business cases for investment to achieve progress in the Action Zones
• reviewing and monitoring progress against business plans for implementation.

To achieve this HISAC has adopted a three-step process:

HISAC Initial Views

It became clear early on that while the Strategy gave a high-level view of each Action Zone there were many questions to address:

• How would an Action Zone function?
• What features would it have?
• Could it be implemented in stages?
• Could there be different approaches?
• What standards would be required?

To provide a benchmark, HISAC is establishing an Initial View of each Action Zone for the sector to consider.

These Initial Views are largely the view of HISAC with input from a small number of identified people with acknowledged expertise. They aim to generate discussion and responses from health practitioners, providers, and funders about the issues and opportunities associated with the better use of existing and emerging information technologies and management systems within each Action Zone in the health sector.

The Initial Views are not definitive but are to be seen as ‘straw men’ for further discussion. They are to inform and be used as benchmarks for the HISAC Action Zone Preliminary Scope and Approach documents.

Preliminary Scope and Approach documents

The HISAC ‘Preliminary Scope and Approach’ for each Action Zone will follow a process of proactive engagement with the sector to produce a robust scope and approach definition for each Action Zone.

The Preliminary Scope and Approach documents will provide clarity for, and a definition of, each of the Action Zones. They will include components such as areas where development or change is needed in business processes, standards, systems and technologies to fully deliver the vision in each Action Zone.

Each Preliminary Scope and Approach document will be developed with the involvement of expert champions from the sector building on the approach used to develop the initial views.
While this approach is different to previous working parties, it has been well supported by the sector.

The engagement with these champions takes various forms; face to face, by phone, email, and in some cases group meetings and workshops.

Once Preliminary Scope and Approach documents have been developed for all the Action Zones they will be widely distributed to health practitioners, providers and funders and feedback requested and incorporated.

Once finalised by HISAC, the Preliminary Scope and Approach documents will be used as a basis to evaluate and endorse sector systems, proposals and business cases for the Action Zones under Step 2.

The current plan is to complete all 12 Action Zone Preliminary Scope and Approach documents by the end of 2006.

HISAC is drawing on the findings from its recent stock take of health information systems in place and projects currently under way in the sector.

Next steps

HISAC’s future directions will be to:

• evaluate existing and proposed systems and initiatives for their alignment with the Strategy
• establish priorities for funding information system implementation projects
• identify and work with sector organisations willing to lead implementation projects as part of Step 2 of the HISAC process.

Through this process HISAC will help to ensure the sector is not re-inventing the wheel or investing in conflicting solutions when implementing complex information systems.

What can you do?

• Consider the HISAC Action Zone Initial Views
• Consider additional or alternative approaches and solutions
• Provide feedback to HISAC
• Nominate yourself, or somebody else, as a ‘champion’ representing your field or area to engage in the Preliminary Scope Process
• Remember:
  • The implementation of HIS-NZ is for the benefit of NGO, community, primary, and secondary providers, funders and national agencies, and all New Zealanders
  • Your input and engagement is vital to a successful implementation.

If you want to engage

Find out more at www.hisac.govt.nz, or contact us at enquiries@HISAC.govt.nz.