Health NZ has delayed the rollout of its Shared Digital Health Record data service to allow additional information-sharing checks to be completed, with the first data now expected to be available by the end of 2026.
The agency said the implementation timeline had been extended so it could meet additional requirements under the Government Digital Delivery Agency’s Information Sharing Standard.
Health NZ said the Shared Digital Health Record must comply with the new standard before information can be shared, requiring additional checks with primary care practices and clinics.
Immunisation and medication data is now expected to be integrated with the Shared Digital Health Record later this year.
Once available, onboarded shared electronic health record (SEHR) providers will be able to access the data and make it available to clinicians when required.
Access to primary care data is expected to begin from mid-2027.
Alongside the rollout, Health NZ has launched an information sharing and security awareness initiative aimed at strengthening the way health information is shared digitally across the sector.
The initiative, running through to August, includes webinars and the development of an online guidance hub featuring practical information, including a security checklist.
Health NZ said it would work through primary health organisations (PHOs) to engage with general practices.
Over the next two months, the Shared Digital Health Record programme will focus on onboarding early adopter general practices, with the first phase involving PHOs, practices and corporate providers in the South Island before expanding to other regions.
The programme will also continue integrating national datasets, including the Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR) and Medicines Data Repository (MDR), while working with SEHR vendors HealthOne, Indici SEHR, Your Health Summary and Manage My Health SEHR on technical and privacy requirements.
Health NZ said work completed to date had included research, interoperability, system integration, communications and engagement, onboarding processes and privacy and security.
The agency said it had engaged with consumers and primary care providers to develop patient communications and test messaging, with early feedback indicating patients recognised the value of shared health information and few had chosen to opt out.
It also said integrations with practice management system vendors had been completed to enable the sharing of core primary care information, while work continued on immunisation and medication data integrations.
Other completed work includes the development of privacy agreements, monitoring systems, due diligence processes, cybersecurity guidance, operational support for consumers and providers and materials explaining the Shared Digital Health Record and patient information-sharing choices.
Health NZ said it had also supported the development of the information sharing and security awareness initiative to help PHOs, primary care providers and their technology suppliers understand their obligations when sharing data with the agency – including assessing and strengthening privacy and cybersecurity where required.
Add Comment