Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice

The Forum facilitates and supports two Communities of Practices:

  • Telehealth Professionals
  • Telehealth Clinicians

The aim of these CoPs is to provide those working in telehealth with a network of members to support each other in their roles, share information and work on joint initiatives.

These are excellent point of contacts for people working in telehealth as they have a very good understanding on the telehealth services and projects in their region.

Professionals Community of Practice

Many organisations have supported a full time or part time position to focus on the development and promotion of telehealth within their organisation or region. While each role varies significantly, the Professionals Community of Practice (COP) is a peer group where members can support each.

Current Focus

  • Build sector PM capability
  • Deal with sector operational issues and challenges
  • Support sector VC implementation
  • Engage with international peers to share learnings

 Future Focus

  • Work more closely with National CIO Forum / Sector Architects Group
  • Promote role of the Telehealth Programme Manager in DHBs, PHOs, NGOs etc
  • Share experience with wider audience
  • Explore virtual health options

Professionals Community of Practice co-chairs

Chair Organisation Contact
Nicole Redfern (co-chair, Telehealth Professionals Community of Practice) Telehealth Product Owner, Canterbury District Health Board Email 
Jess White (co-chair, Telehealth Professionals Community of Practice Programme Lead, National Health Care Home Collaborative Email 

Clinicians Community of Practice

Clinicians who are engaged or involved with using telehealth in their practice come from a wide range of clinical backgrounds including medicine and allied health. The extent to which they use telehealth in clinical practice may vary as does the context they operate in, from large healthcare organisations to sole operator private practice. While each role varies significantly, the Clinicians Community of Practice is a peer group where members can support each other in their roles, discuss ideas, support evidence-based practice and pass on action points to other working groups. 

Current Focus

  • Create a safe environment for collegial discussion of areas of interest and innovation opportunities with a key group of telehealth engaged clinicians 
  • Build sector telehealth clinician capability 
  • Identify and support solutions to sector operational issues and challenges
  • Support sector wide telehealth implementation, evaluation and monitoring
  • Engage with national and international peers for knowledge sharing
  • Reduce duplication of effort and resources by sharing initiatives and resources via the New Zealand Telehealth Forum (NZTF) register
  • Remove siloed workplaces by encouraging and supporting collaboration across health sector.

Future Focus

  • To lead on clinical telehealth matters

Clinicians Community of Practice co-chairs

Chair Organisation Contact
Linzi Birmingham (Co-chair) Manager - Te Whatu Ora | Te Tai o Poutini West Coast Email 
Grahame Jelley (Co-chair) Clinical Director and General Practitioner - Mahitahi Hauora Primary Health Entity Email