Roundup: Te What’s Ora’s new data and digital chief and more in brief

Te Whau Ora named new head of data and digital

Leigh Donoghue has been appointed as the new Head of Data and Digital at Te Whatu Ora.

Donoghue brings significant experience leading key projects, including the national rollout of an EMR system in the United Kingdom, the launch of a national electronic health platform in Australia, and the transformation of national telehealth services in New Zealand.

According to a media release, he will lead a team that will undertake a multi-year program of transformation and digital enablement that underpins the transformation of health services delivery in New Zealand.

That team will also ensure Te Whau Ora’s digital assets are being used to support equitable outcomes across the health system, as well as transparent, usable data to drive innovation using insights from across the sector. Enabling a culture of data sharing.

NT Health officially appoints new CEO

Dr Marco Briseno, who has been serving as NT Health’s Acting CEO since October last year, has been officially appointed to the role.

According to a media release, he had held various leadership roles in the last 15 years as a systems manager.

“It is a great honor for me to be officially appointed as CEO of NT Health, where I am in a position to lead the health strategy and support our colleagues in the amazing work they do across the sector, to to improve the health of the people. Dr. Briseño said of his appointment.

Western Sydney LHD adopts new voice AI to support people with COVID long term

The Western Sydney Local Health District is using a newly launched conversational voice AI solution to provide long-term support to people with COVID.

Developed by health tech company Healthy, the GoShare Voice solution enables phone calls with patients in multiple languages. It provides health education, reminders, appointment confirmation, surveys, and real-time response to patient questions, among others.

LHD is using both online surveys and automated phone calls through GoShare Voice to reach people who are battling prolonged COVID symptoms, including those with low-English proficiency and literacy.

GoShare Voice has enabled the organization to undertake risk-stratification, prioritization and tailored interventions for different segments of the community.

CSIRO collaborates with startup to develop AI dental X-ray analysis model

CSIRO is working with Sydney-based startup Eyes of AI (EAI) in developing an AI model to detect abnormalities in dental X-rays.

EAI has developed a web-based image viewing platform and compiled a large dataset of orthopantomograms, bitewings, periapical and cone beam CT images.

Since last year, it has been collaborating with CSIRO’s data and digital arm, Data61, to develop machine learning models to detect dental and jaw diseases and landmarks, as well as the shape, distance and density between pathological and Measurement features for quantification of non-pathological anatomical landmarks.

The organizations will continue their research partnership over the next 12 months to improve the accuracy and efficiency of their AI models. EIA is also seeking partnerships with top Australian universities to increase the impact of its technology.

BPAC’s e-Referral System Integrates Novari Health’s Referral Management

New Zealand-based BPAC Clinical Solutions has integrated its e-referral system with referral management software from Canadian company Novari Health.

This integration allows physicians using BPAC to transmit referrals from their PMS to private and public healthcare providers using Novari. Healthcare providers can then leverage Novari’s customizable workflows to receive, triage, waitlist, and process patient referrals.