The Information Strategy Management Team is in place
The Information Strategy Group, which supports the National Health IT Board and the development and implementation of the National Health IT Plan, now has its management team in place.
Tony Cooke took up the role of Manager, Health Systems Investment and Planning on 1 October. Tony is well-known in the health sector as he was Chief Information Officer at Hutt Valley District Health Board for 11 years. The Health Systems Investment and Planning Team will track and oversee a range of significant projects in the sector to ensure their alignment with the direction of the National Health IT Plan. The team will assist in removing barriers to progress and ensuring good governance and outcomes for the various programmes of work.
The other two new managers, Sadhana Maraj and Kathy Farndon, have clinical backgrounds and are therefore familiar with the IT needs and frustrations of clinicians.
Sadhana Maraj trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She has worked in a medical capacity in Ireland, England and at Hawkes Bay DHB. She recently completed an MBA at Victoria University and subsequently held roles at ACC and the Ministry of Health. She most recently completed a role at Hutt Valley DHB on the New Zealand Medicines Formulary. Sadhana started in the role of Manager, Health IT Sector Engagement on 11 October. The engagement team will lead engagement and consultation with health stakeholders on the National Health IT Plan.
Kathy Farndon, who joined this week, has a clinical and health service management background and moves from ACC where she was the Manager of Elective Services based in Dunedin. The Solutions and Standards Team will provide leadership in the design and implementation of a coherent set of health information solutions and support the development, implementation and ongoing refinement of practical health information standards.
The Information Strategy Group is responsible for a whole of sector design and strategy for health IT. The leadership role of this Group requires it to work across a range of delivery teams, including primary care, DHBs, commercial and the Information Delivery and Operations Group, to achieve the outcomes of the National Health IT Plan.
The Information Strategy Group recognises the challenge ahead, and understands that strong engagement with key stakeholders such as clinicians, consumers, vendors and CEOs will be essential in managing the changes ahead.
Meet the Team at the Health Informatics New Zealand Annual Conference in Wellington on 2-4 November. Tony, Sadhana and Kathy can also be contacted by email on the standard Ministry email address: firstname_surname@moh.govt.nz.
