Today Healthpoint has launched Ask Healthpoint, New Zealand’s health system navigation tool – your simple way to navigate health services, now powered by AI. It lets people describe what they need in their own words and receive clear, trusted, local service options – in the language they are most comfortable with.
“It is one of the first of its kind. It’s built to search through the trusted national health data on Healthpoint. It has been rigorously tested by both end users and service providers over the past 12 months. It is free, available now, and can be used in multiple languages” Healthpoint Chief Executive Kate Rhind says.
Matt Doocey, Associate Minister of Health and Minister for Mental Health, says “Often, the first step in seeking support is the hardest. Many people don’t know where to start, and it can feel overwhelming. With an accessible tool that Kiwis can access that clearly shows them what’s available in their area, we can ensure more people get the support they need.” “Not knowing where to go or who to talk to has been reported as the reason for unmet mental health needs in one third of children and more than a quarter of adults. This new platform will help remove those barriers and guide people to the right support.”
Otara GP, Dr Harley Aish says: “If you’re not familiar with the health system, it can be hard to know where to start. Ask Healthpoint gets people to the right service, in plain language or their first language, so more people can connect with the care that’s right for them.”
Tiaki Whānau Ltd, not for profit charitable community service, spokesperson and co-founder Hera says “I’m actually excited to recommend that we move forward with this opportunity of sharing Ask Healthpoint with our whānau we deal with. I do hope and believe that Healthpoint AI will be that bridge to connect our people with these services they need.”
“Ask Healthpoint is a navigation tool, not a replacement for your doctor, nurse, or helpline. Its goal is to make it even simpler to find a health service that can help you, no matter the time of day, no matter the type of health concern, even if you don’t understand medical terms or English isn’t your first language,” Ms Rhind says. “A person could simply say or type something like “I have a sore ear” and Ask Healthpoint will provide available options in the area. They’ll be able to see how the health services interact and relate to each other.”
“Built with input from health professionals, consumer voices, & Healthline call taker staff. Ask Healthpoint was developed over 12 months with 25 rounds of testing across a comprehensive test set. It included real world scenarios to make sure it consistently points people to the right types of services and shows clear ‘get help now’ prompts when urgent support is needed.
“Given data security is paramount in a technology-driven world, Ask Healthpoint has also been heavily tested by independent security experts, in ways a real attacker would, to ensure it is as robust as possible. We’re confident Ask Healthpoint will assist the country’s drive towards better, faster and seamless access to all health services. 22 years of Healthpoint directory expertise underpins this innovation and Ask Healthpoint will continue to evolve,” Ms Rhind says.
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