HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury

HealthInfo content strategy

Rautaki ihirangi ki HealthInfo

HealthInfo is a Te Whatu Ora health information website. It is used by the Waitaha Canterbury, South Canterbury and Southern health systems.

HealthInfo provides high-quality information, vetted and approved locally. This means health professionals can refer their patients to it for diagnosed conditions. People searching for general health and wellbeing resources can access the same high-quality information.

Printed information quickly gets out of date. The information on HealthInfo is held and used electronically. The information is constantly reviewed, updated and added to.

All the information provided on HealthInfo is approved by clinical advisers. The clinical advisers are all qualified health professionals in the local health systems.

Health professionals can write a search term on a HealthInfo card and give it to their patient. The patient or their family can then access the information on an electronic device.

Health professionals can also print information by following the HealthInfo links in HealthPathways.

Content strategy

• Good quality health information is already available in print and on the internet. But it is difficult to know whether the information is reliable and relevant to the local health system. HealthInfo provides an overview of important information that is easy to understand. It also directs people to more in-depth information. This information has been checked to ensure that it is reliable and relevant.
• The criteria for what information is included and not included on HealthInfo are below.
• When looking for information, local information has first preference. New Zealand second. Australian third and overseas last.
• Where suitable information is available, HealthInfo provides links to that information.
• Some suitable information is not available on the internet. This information is added to HealthInfo with the approval of the information owner.
• A clinical editor approves all existing and new information and links before they are added to HealthInfo.
• Where relevant, HealthInfo provides links to support organisations. When looking for support organisations, local support organisations have first preference. New Zealand support organisations are second. Australian third and overseas last.
• The information on HealthInfo is in a format that most users can understand. The information is in written, pictorial and video formats as appropriate.
• The information on HealthInfo is not generally translated into other languages. But it has links to translated resources where available. Specific information might be translated if there is an urgent need for it.

Criteria for inclusion

• Information about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and management of a condition.
• Information about the post-discharge management of a condition. This could include a description of community-based services available to help after discharge.
• Information about support organisations and groups.
• Information about prevention, reducing risk, lifestyle and so on.
• Self-help information, advice and recommendations. For example, breastfeeding advice, keeping safe in an emergency and flu vaccinations.
• Information about medications.
• General information about surgery, medical procedures and tests. Also, preparing for hospital visits and operations.
• Information about end-of-life planning and palliative care.
• Information about the availability and eligibility of funding and entitlements for health-related services.
• Information about where to go for help about bullying, abuse and so on.
• General information about health rights, health information and privacy.
• Information about public health promotions.

Criteria for exclusion

• Pre-admission preparation and checks. Te Whatu Ora should send this to patients. Letters and other information can refer to or link to HealthInfo as appropriate.
• Locations, hours and other details of services. This should be on the local Te Whatu Ora public website. HealthInfo can link to this.
• Details of specific people in hospital departments, private practices and so on. This includes specific phone numbers and email addresses.
• Clinical information that requires explanation by a health professional. Resources that the health professional needs to complete with specific information. For example, anxiety action plans or exercise programmes.
• General promotional material.

Private healthcare providers

• Private healthcare providers are not normally listed on HealthInfo. But they can be if they provide publicly funded services.
• HealthInfo links to professional body member directories. For example, Physiotherapy New Zealand – Find a physio. Also, New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists' Association – Find a therapist near you.
• It also links to the health service directory Healthpoint.

Exceptions can be made to all the criteria above if there are good reasons for doing so.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed April 2024.

Page reference: 74832

Review key: HIIHP-148325