HISO (2010)
Our purpose
The purpose of the Health Information Standards Organisation (2010) is to support and promote the development, understanding and use of fit-for-purpose health information standards to improve the New Zealand health system.
What are standards and why do we need them?
A standard is an agreed and repeatable way of describing something to achieve a common understanding. We use standards in everyday life, for example to describe time and distance. We also use standards for many goods and services, for example having electrical standards means that any electrical appliance purchased anywhere in New Zealand can be plugged into any mains socket anywhere in New Zealand, and will work, and work safely.
Standards in health information have come about as a result of changing technologies and changes in the way healthcare is delivered. Health information standards support the increasing need to safely and securely exchange a wide variety of patient information between various healthcare providers.
Adopting a standardised approach to health information across the health and disability sector will assist the National Health IT Board to achieve their vision of high quality health care and improved patient safety by 2014.
Contact Us standards@moh.govt.nz
