Quality Improvement Committee Health Information Strategy Action Committee 31 May 2007 - News and Updates

Media Release

31 May 2007

Quality Improvement Committee - Health Information Strategy Action Committee

Those working in the New Zealand heath sector are dedicated professional people who strive to provide the best care possible to their patients. However, errors can and do occur despite the best efforts of staff and organisations. Giving patients the right medicine at the right time is crucial to their treatment. The Health Sector has been looking at ways to reduce the incidence of medicine errors. Under Budget 2007, $10.2 million has been provided for the development of a medicine barcoding system that would provide a tool for those administering medication.

The Quality Improvement Committee (QIC) and the Health Information Strategy Action Committee (HISAC) applaud the Minister of Health's recent announcement. "This and other planned initiatives have the potential to make a significant contribution to patient safety" said Pat Snedden, the chair of the Quality Improvement Committee.
QIC and HISAC support bedside verification of medication as part of the broader approach being taken to medicine reconciliation and ultimately improved medication safety. Other medication safety projects are being trailed include including ePharmacy, eReferrals and eDischarges.

"HISAC is working closely with the sector to implement the Health Information Strategy for New Zealand. Together with QIC and health professionals the initiatives above can lead to significant gains in medication safety for New Zealanders" said Chai Chuah, the acting chair of HISAC.

ENDS

Contacts
Bruce Anderson – for medication bedside verification
Manager
Governance, Ministry of Health
Ph (04) 496 2275

Dougal McKechnie – for eReferrals and ePharmacy activity
Manager
Office of the Health Information Strategy Action Committee
Ph (04) 816 3355

Related information
17/05/07: Part of press release from Minister of Health - Major Investment in NZers' Health (www.beehive.govt.nz)
Another $10.2 million over four years in Budget 2007 will go towards improving bedside verification of drugs to patients, a key step in the on-going work we are doing to reduce adverse events in hospitals, Pete Hodgson said.

Health Information Strategy Action Committee (www.hisac.govt.nz)
The Health Information Strategy Action Committee (HISAC) is a Ministerial Advisory Committee established to provide governance, oversight and leadership for the implementation of the Health Information Strategy for New Zealand (HIS-NZ).