Telehealth Newsletter - November Update 2021
November 2021
TAS Announces $430k Telehealth Funding for Equity The Central region Technical Advisory Services (TAS) has appointed Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu as the lead provider to deliver the Equity in Telehealth in Primary Care initiative in the South Island. TAS earlier outlined that ‘Digital enablement of telehealth may be in the form of devices, data, training, and technical, cultural, or social supports – addressing issues that are preventing an unencumbered choice of using telehealth where needed and wanted'. TAS Announcement
TAS, on behalf of the 20 DHBs, has appointed Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu as the lead provider to deliver the Equity in Telehealth in Primary Care initiative in the South Island. The contract has been awarded for three years with a total worth of around $430,000 which will be used to deliver devices, data/internet technologies and resources to support learning and upskilling in use of devices.
Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu is the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for the South Island, Rakiura and Wharekauri/Rekohu (Chatham Islands). It has extensive experience in serving and supporting Māori, with a focus on whānau-centred and whānau-led approaches. In particular, Whānau Ora partners have a greater reach into these communities, allowing them to improve outcomes for whānau who do not engage with mainstream services. The delivery of this initiative will sit alongside the work Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu is already doing to address equity issues experienced by Māori, Pacific peoples, and those living in rural areas and accessing Very Low Cost Access primary care.
Following the RFP process, a provider was unable to be determined for the North Island. The allocated funding of around $540,000 will be used by North Island DHBs for equity and telehealth initiatives in their community.
TAS is looking forward to working with Te Pūtahitanga o te Waipounamu to deliver this much-needed and important mahi, enabling disadvantaged communities to receive the primary care they need by removing barriers and providing equitable, easy access to telehealth services. It is expected that services will be up and running early next year.  Bill Vercoe There are many examples of successful telehealth stories, and Bill Vercoe's story is worth sharing. Bill is an oncology patient at Nelson Hospital and the video was developed by Nelson Marlborough Health. Thank you to Shelley Shea, Oncology Nurse from Nelson Marlborough Health, Bill and South Alliance.
If you have a telehealth video to share, we'd like to hear from you. Please email us. Watch it now: Latest webinars The recording of the latest telehealth webinars are available on our website. We encourage you to share the video link to your networks.
The next upcoming webinar is: New and emerging healthcare innovation, moderated by Ruth Large and Yariv Doron. More information coming soon - stay up to date by liking and following our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
If you have any suggestions for topics and panellists, please email help@telehealth.org.nz. National Telehealth Register The National Telehealth Register was created to help share telehealth related policy, processes, resources and projects. While the register continues to grow, we need your input by registering all telehealth work and projects in New Zealand.
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