Newly appointed Health Minister Simeon Brown recently announced new investment package to improve access to primary care.
An extra NZ$285 million ($164 million) funding over three years will be invested in general practice from July on top of their existing yearly capitation funding. Minister Brown committed primary care placements for both overseas and locally trained doctors, as well as additional training placements for primary care nurse practitioners and doctors. Incentives are also set aside for providers recruiting nurses. Additionally, a NZ$165 million ($95 million) 24/7 telehealth service connecting patients with GPs and nurse practitioners is expected to go live in the middle of the year.
This emphasis on “fixing primary healthcare” started last year with over $10 billion investment over three years to address cost pressures in delivering healthcare services.
Integral to this work is primary care data. A Te Whatu Ora-funded national project is currently building a dashboard that will highlight the work of general practice and primary health organisations (PHOs) in the country. General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ), a group representing the primary care sector in New Zealand, emphasised having a tool to “tell its own story.”
Healthcare IT News spoke with Amanda Webb, head of Strategy and Engagement – Data and Digital at GPNZ, to discuss more details about this new dashboard: its features, who its intended users are, and which areas of primary health decision-making it could provide value. Webb also explained why access to national-level data on primary care is important.
Q. Can you describe the dashboard features?
A. The dashboard is a visualisation and reporting tool. The dashboard interface lets users explore data by various filters to gain insight.
It currently contains a population report that allows de-identified PHO data to be analysed by age, ethnicity, gender, deprivation quintile, rurality and region. This report also presents enrolment trends over time.
The dashboard does not – and will not – contain any identifiable patient or practice data.
Q. Why is the national dashboard being developed? How did it start? And does it align with any program/strategy the New Zealand government has outlined?
A. Primary care makes an enormous contribution to the New Zealand health system, and it is critical [that] the primary care sector has a tool to demonstrate its value and tell its own story.
The data in the dashboard will provide collective insight, context and much-needed visibility to the work of GPs and PHOs. The dashboard aims to better inform decisions on strategic investments, resource allocation, and interventions to improve service delivery.
The dashboard is not intended for use at the general practice level. There is a variety of ways PHOs use data – and they already support their provider networks to use data. The dashboard is not aimed to replace those functions and local relationships. Its purpose is to provide national-level visibility of primary care and PHO activity.
In developing the dashboard, there is naturally a focus on key government priorities and targets. But we are also taking the opportunity to tell our own story, presenting primary care-determined measures that we know contribute to improved health outcomes and equity or those that demonstrate activity, delivery, and challenges.
Q. Where are you now with this project?
A. As of late March, there are 11 PHOs participating, with aggregated data representing approximately 2.5 million people – this is about 65% of the North Island.
We have achieved what we set out to do in phase one, which was largely about providing a minimum viable product with an initial group of participating PHOs and a limited set of reports.
We now have critical mass, and we are on track to deliver a functional, safe and insightful tool.
From here, the dashboard will go through a process of iterative development, with more PHOs coming on board and further reports incorporated.
Future reports planned include clinical indicator reports, with diabetes and respiratory first in the lineup. There are plans to deliver insights into service utilisation, accessibility, and workforce distribution.
We’re also deeply committed to upholding the principles and commitments of Māori data governance as part of this mahi, ensuring this engagement is achieved in an inclusive and authentic way. With help from some sector partners and local hauora expertise, we are developing a governance framework and Māori stakeholder engagement approach, ensuring we not only understand these obligations but also live and breathe them.
GPNZ has a priority focus to ensure the dashboard and all data is used to enhance the wellbeing of Māori while safeguarding rangatiratanga – ensuring the rights of Māori are maintained in controlling data relating to their people, whenua, and resources. This will help ensure the dashboard positively demonstrates the impact of primary care on hauora outcomes while also informing and empowering local, regional and national decision-making.
Q. Can you explain the value of national-level data on primary care? What are the main challenges in primary care that the dashboard project aims to address?
A. There is a wealth of hospital data available in the health system, but primary care delivers most of the care to most of the people most of the time. National-level primary care data is required to provide a better and fuller picture to decision makers and funders on what is happening. This will help focus attention on primary care utilisation, key health indicators and outcomes, and workforce and accessibility insights.
The dashboard will support population health gains through:
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enhanced ability to address equity gaps;
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targeted interventions and service improvements;
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strategic investments in primary health care;
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evidence-based decisions to inform strategic planning and policy decisions; and
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supporting government targets and priorities.
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Interview responses have been edited for consistency and clarity.