June 08, 2015
New tool to track Maori health data
Maori health advocates hope a new web based tool to be launched this week will speed up Maori health gains by increasing access to health performance information.
The Maori Health Plan Monitoring Tool has been developed by Bay of Plenty District Health Board doctor George Gray with the backing of Tumu Whakarae, the national Maori general managers' group and funding from the Bay of Plenty, Capital & Coast, Hawke’s Bay and Waitemata DHBs.
Dr Gray says all DHBs must develop plans to improve performance on 16 health indicators relating to Maori, but reporting on progress has been inconsistent.
There are many examples of Maori having poorer experiences in the health system. which flows on to poorer outcomes and poorer life expectancy.
The monitoring tool works on a similar basis to the Ministry of Health’s quarterly Health Targets.
It will give Maori health information updated daily on all 20 DHBs including performance trends, rankings against other DHBs, disparities between Maori and non-Maori, as well as links to seminars on ‘best practice’ by the nation’s top performers.
The tool will be available from Thursday at www.trendly.co.nz following the launch.
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