17 June 2011

Auckland medical software company Intrahealth Systems has been awarded the contract to deliver Plunket’s innovative new information system, PlunketPlus.

Plunket CEO Jenny Prince says PlunketPlus will change the way Plunket nurses deliver key services in the community.

“PlunketPlus will be very much a child and family centred solution. We are looking to improve child health outcomes through access to in-depth, accurate and timely information.

“Currently, patient records are paper based. The new system will provide greater support to our nurses, allowing them to capture and access information electronically in the field, freeing up their valuable time from administration and record taking and allowing them to focus even more on the children and families they are working with,” she says.

Mrs Prince says Intrahealth were awarded the contract, ahead of the significant number of proposals, after a lengthy and robust process and will spend the next 12 months on further analysis, design and development of the system. The first pilot is expected about mid-2012.

“It was important to us that the contract was awarded to a company that shared similar values to our own. Intrahealth clearly understand the sector in which Plunket operates and what will be required to make the system work effectively for Plunket and the families we work with,” she said.

Intrahealth General Manager Tom Donnelly says “Intrahealth is delighted to be selected to provide the PlunketPlus information system. PlunketPlus provides a platform to showcase innovative New Zealand technology making a difference to the lives of New Zealanders. Plunket has conducted a thorough selection process and we now look forward to getting alongside Plunket personnel to commence system design. Plunket’s pre-eminent national standing and involvement in the lives of our nation, further emphasises the importance of this project.

“Many system requirements of PlunketPlus embrace and evolve objectives of the National Health IT plan. Connected health and client inclusion are key planks of the PlunketPlus system. Once commissioned, PlunketPlus will share information with primary and other health system providers in order to deliver better health outcomes for New Zealand’s children and their caregivers,” he said.

For more information contact

Nikki Hooper
Plunket External Communications Executive
021 405 842
Nikki.hooper@plunket.org.nz

About Plunket
For more than a century Plunket has been giving New Zealand parents the knowledge and support they need to nurture healthy, happy kiwi babies.

Plunket is a not-for-profit organisation and is New Zealand’s largest provider of services to support the health and development of children under five. Plunket is dedicated to working with parents and communities to ensure that New Zealand children get the best start in life. Plunket’s services help families nationwide, through over 550 branches, mobile clinics and a free phone service PlunketLine, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (0800 933 922).

Plunket services are available free to families in New Zealand with children aged 0 to 5. As registered nurses with a postgraduate qualification, Plunket nurses are able to offer high standards of expertise and a range of services to families.

About Intrahealth
Founded in 1997, Intrahealth is a privately owned NZ based company with its head office at Birkenhead, Auckland, and subsidiaries that conduct operations in the health sector in NZ, Australia and Canada. Shareholders are NZ residents (or former residents who have moved overseas since investing) with ties to health and other businesses.

Intrahealth has 91 staff and is well established as a developer and provider of health information systems, mainly in the primary and community sectors, with some involvement in secondary care in the area of mental health systems. Intrahealth is actively involved in various initiatives with the National Health IT Board.

Tags: PlunketPlus Jenny Prince technology intrahealth 0 Comments 17 June 2011