Connected Health
Purpose
Connected Health is establishing an environment for the safe sharing of health information.
What is it?
Connected Health is a standards-based, commercial model for the delivery of universal connectivity across the New Zealand health sector.
The Connected Health Network is a 'network of networks' delivered by multiple telecommunication service providers on a competitive basis, using industry standard, commodity capability.
What is the Programme delivering?
The foundation components of an interconnected health network, including
- A common connectivity framework
- Network connectivity standards (approved by HISO)
- Core network components
- Three managed points of interconnection
- A uniform addressing scheme
- An accreditation and certification process for suppliers (telecommunication service providers)
- Governance and management oversight.
What will be different?
Connected Health will:
- Improve reliability, safety, and security of transferring health information
- Only products or services certified against approved network connectivity standards will be allowed to connect to the network
- Increase competition
- Health IT suppliers will be required to disaggregate services and products and certify them against common (HISO-approved) network connectivity standards, thereby levelling the competitive field and allowing new vendors to enter the market
- There will be increased competition between health IT suppliers, increasing innovation and encouraging value for money
- Health organisations across the sector, whether public or private, will have a greater choice of standardised offerings, from multiple IT suppliers
- Build foundation components
- There will be a foundation for the safe sharing of electronic health information throughout the sector and with the public at large
- There will be a consistent approach for connecting up and addressing entities across the entire health sector
- This foundation will be a key enabler for the implementation of the initiatives in the National Health IT Plan that transfer information.
If you have any questions about Connected Health, these may be answered in our Frequently Asked Questions (aimed at health care providers).
For further information, please contact
Health Network Administration Team
healthnetwork@moh.govt.nz
Phone: 0800 505 125
Fax: (06) 349 1983
Page updated: 11 January 2012
