In 2004 the Ministry of Health funded the NZ Health IT Cluster to prepare an e-Laboratory Orders and Communications Feasibility Study. This was completed and published by the Cluster in November 2004.

The Feasibility Study concluded that the implementation of an electronic laboratory ordering and results system was financially and clinically justified and outlined a way forward for an initial implementation site.

Since the Feasibility Study was published, work to progress messaging standards and LOINC coding has taken place. This progress together with the work undertaken in the Microsoft Collaborative Health Showcase (a separate Cluster project) lessens the obstacles to implementation and approves the business case for early adoption.

In 2006 the Ministry of Health asked the Cluster to clarify its members’ position with regard to some key elements of the e-Laboratory proposal in the Feasibility Study, and in particular the nature of any Clinical Data Repository that may be required under a proposed e-Laboratory system.

The Cluster report e-Laboratory: Clinical Data Repository Options was completed and published by the Cluster in February 2006.

In 2007 - 2008 Cluster and HISAC have worked together, with the support of strong clinical leadership provided by the Midlands Regions DHBs and PHOs, and the key contributions from the Cluster members to produce a costed proposal for a regional pilot implementation of e-labs Orders and Results. The Pilot Programme Proposal was completed and published by the Cluster in September 2008.

To read a copy of these reports click on the links below.