Frequently Asked Questions

Frquently Asked Questions

What is the Clinicians' Challenge?

The Clinicians' Challenge is an opportunity for clinicians and vendors to identify information technology solutions to solve an important and recurring problem that health professionals face in their 'day-to-day' practice.

What is the purpose of the challenge?

The challenge aims to promote the use of information technology in health. We want to encourage more clinicians to become interested in technology and we want vendors to further develop their understanding of clinical requirements. We want to support the development of IT systems that help us to work smarter and improve patient outcomes.

Who can enter?

Any clinician or group of clinicians can enter with a problem they face in their day-to-day practice that the innovative use of information technology could help solve. We're after submissions from all clinical disciplines, for example pharmacists, midwives or occupational health practitioners.

Who runs it?

The challenge is supported by Health Informatics New Zealand (HINZ), the New Zealand Health IT Cluster and the National Health IT Board (Health IT Board).

What's the time line?

What should clinicians include in their brief outline of a problem they face?

We'd like 300-500 words outlining a problem you face in your day-to-day practice that the innovative use of information technology could help solve. It should be an important, reoccurring problem.  The winning case will lead to a solution that promotes better integrated care across the primary and secondary care sector.

You may have a process that needs improving or want a better way of finding or sharing information. The case may describe an acute or chronic condition or one that requires prevention, a related set of episodes or shared care. It might focus on an aspect of administration or learning rather than direct patient care.

Entrants may want to include a concept for how they think the problem might be solved using technology; suggestions on how work processes may need to change, and any relevant solutions to similar problems that are already in place in New Zealand or overseas.

Who are the judges?

The judging panel for the challenge includes representatives from HINZ, the National Information Clinical Leadership Group (an advisory group to the Health IT Board), the Health IT Cluster and a consumer representative.

What about prizes?

The winning clinician is entitled to funding of up to $10,000 to be put towards thier professional development and to further investigate an IT solution to the problem he entered.  The winning clinician and vendor could choose to use the funding to further develop specifications for the proposal, to view a solution in action, attend a related conference or to do further research or study.  The funding may also be used to provide locum cover if required.

The two runner-up clinicians and the winning vendor are each entitled to up to $5000 for their professional development.  Each clinician and the winning vendor received HINZ membership for two years, registration and accommodation for the 2013 HINZ conference, and the opportunity to present their findings back to HINZ in 2013.

Each of the prize winners will submit a proposal supporting their study before receiving their funding.

How long has the Clinicians' Challenge been running for?

This is the third year of the Clinicians' Challenge. Last year's event was valuable in improving clinician engagement in health information technology, and it's only just the beginning.

Last year, the judging panel also identified some health IT solutions, including some in the National Health IT Plan, that could assist or solve some of the problems raised by clinicians.

Who has won previously?

Janet Liang, an intensive care specialist from North Shore Hospital, won in 2011 with a proposal for a language interpreter system to improve communication with patients, particularly in emergency situations when there isn't time to organise interpreters.

The winning case in 2010 came from a colorectal cancer care nursing service that 'wants to ensure a seamless and timely interface between hospital and community-based continued care and social support systems'. The winning vendor, Orion, is working with the clinician to develop a system and expects to have it completed by the end of this year.