Frontline voices: the human cost of budget cuts
“Not having integrated/ connected services will decrease the efficiency and ability of frontline staff to make critical clinical decisions on the best course of action for patient care.” Outdated and over complicated systems are leading to staff burnout and staff leaving the public health system: Staff are frustrated by being unable to provide timely, quality care to their patients due to poor information systems and outdated technology. 88.4% of respondents reported the cuts will worsen their ability to explore digital innovations that could significantly improve the care they provide. They are reporting high levels of stress, reducing job satisfaction and many are actively looking outside the public system for jobs. “We are already disillusioned. Simple basic IT functionality will now get in the way of us delivering care and impede research into how we can improve. We will burn out.”
Those surveyed describe an untenable situation where: System failures delay care and create risk of patient harm: Outdated and underfunded IT systems frequently crash, delaying critical care and increasing the risk of errors. “Digital infrastructure requires maintenance; these cuts will push it below the sustainable levels.” - survey participant Administrative burden creates less time for patient care: An overwhelming 94.3% of respondents outlined how slow and less efficient IT systems are leading to frontline staff spending more time on administration and less with patients. “Every minute spent wrestling with an outdated system is a minute I’m not with my patient. It’s demoralising and dangerous.” - survey participant Fragmented care wastes time and creates risk: 95.5% of respondents identified that limited interoperability between systems is a critical issue that will only worsen. This leaves clinicians without a full picture of patient histories, often wasting time searching for information, wasting resources and delaying care by referring for investigations that may be unnecessary, and increasing the likelihood of misdiagnoses.
WHICH PART OF THE HEALTH OR WIDER SECTOR AREYOU CURRENTLY EMPLOYED? YES 91.6% NO 8.4%
HEALTH NZ |TEWHATU ORA 55.3% PRIMARY HEALTH INCLUDING GP, NGO, KAUPAPA MAORI HEALTH PROVIDERS 11.7% HOME CARE SUPPORT SERVICES/ AGED RESIDENTIAL CARE 1.7% PRIVATE COMPANY, SELF EMPLOYED, NON-PROFIT 18.4% IWI MĀORI PARTNERSHIP BOARD 0.3% OTHER 12.6%
DOYOU BELIEVE BUDGET CUTSTO DATA AND DIGITAL SERVICES WILL AFFECT THE FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKFORCE?
YES 94.7% NO 5.3%
THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL HEALTH IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND - VOICE OF THE WORKFORCE | A HINZ SPECIAL REPORT | 4
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