Telehealth is the use of information and communication technologies to deliver health care when patients and care providers are not in the same physical location. For example, illnesses can be diagnosed and treatment provided via secure video conference.

The New Zealand Telehealth Forum promotes the use of telehealth in the provision of health care. It is led by a group that includes clinicians, consumers, policy makers, planning and funding managers, ICT experts and industry representatives.

The role of the Telehealth Leadership Group is to:

  • advise on requirements and priorities for telehealth deployments to support rural and provincial hospitals, integrated care, home monitoring and clinical networks
  • advise on matters relating to environmental considerations, eg, barriers to uptake, technical considerations, protocols and guidelines, and standards
  • provide advice and support for projects undertaken by the Forum
  • contribute to the achievement of the overall objectives of the Telehealth Leadership Group to the maximum extent practicable.

For a list of the current membership, see the NZ Telehealth Forum website. (external link)

The NZ Telehealth Resource Centre 

The NZ Telehealth Resource Centre (external link) provides comprehensive guidance and resources for people who want to set up, improve or use a telehealth service within New Zealand. The site also offers to connect you to specialist support through the Contact Us section.  (external link)