Keeps Auckland safe in a measles outbreak - Healthpoint
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Keeps Auckland
safe in a measles
outbreak
The Medinz communication platform played an important
role in keeping people and communities in New Zealand’s
largest city safe during a measles outbreak.
The situation
In 2019, Auckland experienced an outbreak of measles. With a
relatively young population, including vulnerable communities
living in close proximity in parts of the city, the situation was
serious. There were 1100 diagnosed cases that sparked a run
on the MMR vaccine.
Medinz was used by Auckland’s three District Health Boards
as the primary communications platform to inform general
practices, urgent care centres and pharmacies about vaccine
stocks. The critical message reached at least one contact
person in each organisation.
Healthpoint New Zealand +64 9 630 0828 Australia +61 1-800 008 384 Visit healthpointltd.health
Medinz keeps people and communities safer
The Auckland Regional Public Health Service and the DHBs knew they The Medinz implementation was driven by a steering group which included the:
needed to get accurate, clinically relevant information to primary health 1. Clinical Director of Primary Care, Northern Region Health Control Centre
practitioners quickly, to manage the spread. They also knew the epidemic, 2. Head of Emergency Management and Response Northern Region
and the clinical guidance needed to manage it, would change regularly. 3. A DHB Chief Information Officer
The health agencies turned to Medinz to communicate directly with primary 4. Communications Directors at the DHBs
care providers across the Auckland region. 5. Clinical Lead and Communications Director for regional public health
6. Clinical Lead for Community Laboratories
7. Primary Care GP and Nurse Liaisons
From 8th April to 20th November 2019 Topics included:
Medinz delivered: Updates on confirmed new cases.
30 measles-related messages, 23 of them urgent. New procedures for managing the outbreak.
To approximately 2,900 practitioners. New vaccination guidelines.
Transparency
of message distribution available Where to send patients for community vaccination clinics.
in real-time to publishers.
Medinz’ two-way communications tools also proved valuable in managing vaccine stocks. As
concerned Aucklanders flocked to clinics to be vaccinated, the region’s stocks of the MMR
vaccine began running low.
On 10 September 2019, an Auckland Primary Health Organisation (PHO) used Medinz to
successfully contact practices asking them to urgently advise of their practice MMR stock levels.
According to regional primary care emergency planner and GP Dr John Cameron, in this moment,
the communications tool proved its worth. “The message went out at about 8am and by 11 that
morning, the full breakdown of where our MMR stocks across the greater Auckland metropolitan
area were known. I’m exceptionally pleased,” says Dr Cameron, who is chair of the Auckland
Metro Primary Emergency Preparedness Service Level Alliance Team.
“The message went out at about 8am and by 11 that morning, the full
breakdown of where our MMR stocks across the greater Auckland
metropolitan area were known,”
Dr John Cameron – NZ Doctor, 1st October 2019
With this information to hand, the PHO and Auckland’s DHBs then prioritised the region’s
MMR supplies to ensure they reached target populations. Then they used Medinz again to
update practitioners on the changing vaccination protocols.
Key statistics
From 8th April to 20th November 2019:
30 messages, 23 urgent.
Approximately 2,900 practitioners.
Healthpoint delivers fairer access online
A socially-focused technology company, it is Australia and New Zealand’s trusted expert in healthcare information.
Through their simple, excellent solutions, they have been connecting people and communities to better healthcare since 2004.
Healthpoint New Zealand +64 9 630 0828 Australia +61 1-800 008 384 Visit healthpointltd.health
Your toolkit for safer communities
During the measles epidemic, Medinz supported Auckland’s public health response by
keeping communities safer and improving treatment. It did this by delivering:
Direct, timely information Sending messages to specific Prioritising message dependent
suburbs/regions on level of urgency and risk
Ensuring out of office/clinic Visibility of message delivery 100% coverage to all
responsiveness and readership dashboards identified organisations
Two-way conversations between Recipient feedback on usefulness Ability to coordinate messaging
clinical experts and providers of message across regions for particular
events/processes
Processes managing publisher Giving one streamlined platform Offering continuous
permission for message for fewer messages, greater reach improvement processes
distribution and recall
Messages to the recipient’s
preference
Healthpoint delivers fairer access online
A socially-focused technology company, it is Australia and New Zealand’s trusted expert in healthcare information.
Through their simple, excellent solutions, they have been connecting people and communities to better healthcare since 2004.
Healthpoint New Zealand +64 9 630 0828 Australia +61 1-800 008 384 Visit healthpointltd.health
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