Quote Of The Year

Timeless Quotes - Sadly The Late Paul Shetler - "Its not Your Health Record it's a Government Record Of Your Health Information"

or

H. L. Mencken - "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

NSW Announces A Plan For NSW Health For The Next Decade. E-Health Gets A Good Deal Of Coverage!

This appeared a little while ago.

NSW State Health Plan: Towards 2021

The NSW State Health Plan: Towards 2021 provides a strategic framework which brings together NSW Health’s existing plans, programs and policies and sets priorities across the system for the delivery of ‘the right care, in the right place, at the right time’.

Related Link

File Size: 5097 kb
Type: Report
Date of Publication: 19 June 2014
ISBN: 978-1-74187-977-3
SHPN: (ODG) 140065
Here is the link to the relevant page:
On Page 25 we read:

Strategy 3 - Enabling E-Health

Technology is transforming how we live and work through improved connectivity, intelligent software, and smart, mobile devices. Health and medicine are no exception as the rapid introduction of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) continues to impact nearly every aspect of patient care, treatment and research.
What NSW Health Is Doing
NSW Health is using technology to support the healthcare system as it changes and evolves, embedding eHealth into everyday models of care that help link patients, service providers and communities in a connected, smarter healthcare system.
NSW Health has been harnessing eHealth to strengthen patient care and drive value for money in the delivery of healthcare services. The Blueprint for eHealth in NSW sets out the vision for technology led improvements in quality, delivery, efficiency and safety of healthcare for patients.
Putting the patient first, NSW Health is rolling out a number of major clinical eHealth systems:
  • Electronic Medical Record (eMR) – 142 of our hospitals – or 80 percent of our bed base – now use an eMR enabling clinicians to order tests, schedule surgery and prepare discharge summaries electronically.
  •  The Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) and Radiology Information System (RIS), are used in the majority of our hospitals, and allow clinicians to receive electronic radiology reports and images in less than 24 hours for faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans for patients
  •  HealtheNet links the electronic medical records used by public hospital and community services with the National eHealth Record or Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR). Clinicians working in our public hospitals – with patient consent – can now view all the information held on that patient’s PCEHR and use it for improved planning that is crucial to integrated care
  •  The eBlue Book documents health and development checks along with immunisation details for babies and children, replacing the hard copy booklet. Currently being trialled in the west of Sydney, the eBlue Book provides a convenient, easily accessible health record where inbuilt checks and reminders help parents better manage their child’s health
NSW Health has also invested in eHealth business – or ‘back of house’ solutions – to manage health services as effectively and efficiently as possible including:
·         Every hospital has access to the Patient Flow Portal, which is used to manage an estimated 3,250 patient transfers per month, providing timely access to care
·         A new online Learning Management System HETI Online has been developed to support front line and other staff remain up to date with access to the latest statewide training resources. HETI Online will also provide tools and data for staff and managers to better manage training requirements
·         Stafflink, a single statewide payroll and human resources system provides an integrated source of workforce information and facilitates better planning and staff management
·         CBORD, the Food Services, IT system is being upgraded and standardised to enable more accurate management by clinicians of each patient’s dietary requirements and sophisticated inventory management by Food Services staff
NSW has also invested in IT infrastructure upgrades and boosted broadband access so that eHealth solutions work better and faster.

What NSW Health Will Do.

Invest in clinical systems:

·         Community Health and Outpatient Care to integrate clinical and electronic record systems
·         Electronic Medical Record Phase 2 to upgrade functionality and reach of the system, and expand voice recognition capacity
·         Electronic Medication Management to improve the accuracy and scope of intelligent prescription systems
·         Intensive Care Clinical Information System to bring a suite of online and digital systems for improved integration.

Invest in business systems:

·         Trial a new system, HealthRoster, to allow managers to more effectively match the availability and skill levels of staff to the needs of patients. The new system, which is earmarked for statewide roll-out, will also be linked with our payroll and HR systems
·         Overhaul the current Incident Information Management System to better track, record and report clinical incidents
·         Instigate an Asset and Facilities Management Performance Improvement Program

Invest in infrastructure:

·         Infrastructure upgrades for equal access to high speed broadband
·         Streamline the NSW Health Data Centre for efficient and reliable IT infrastructure support

Strengthen eHealth governance – to create a contemporary, responsive and world-class eHealth system in NSW

·         Establish eHealth NSW as a dedicated organisation within NSW Health to guide eHealth planning, strategy, program implementation and operations
·         Establish an eHealth Executive Council to provide statewide strategic direction and support to eHealth NSW
·         Appoint a Chief Clinical Information Officer to engage with clinicians to align informatics and clinical practice across NSW Health
·         Develop a federated governance approach for eHealth NSW where Local Health Districts and Specialty Health Networks are active partners in planning and program roll-out as well as enabling local solutions and innovation in eHealth

Refresh the eHealth vision to set a clear direction for the future

·         Set a strategic direction to guide investment in new statewide eHealth initiatives
·         Clearly articulate new arrangements in governance, privacy, capacity-building and telehealth responsibilities
·         Establish key eHealth performance measures
·          Set out a rural eHealth strategy to improve eHealth delivery to rural and remote areas.
-----  End Extract.
This is a really useful summary of just what NSW is up to in E-Health and is worthwhile to be aware of for all who are interested in what is happening in Australia.
I am interested as to what people think of what NSW is planning.
David.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

On a first pass read the following caught my eye:
"Clinicians working in our public hospitals – with patient consent – can now view all the information held on that patient’s PCEHR and use it for improved planning that is crucial to integrated care".

I asked myself, is this an aberration?, or is this what they really think?, and if so one has to ask how much can one really believe in the rest of the document.

Oh, and please is the written creativity of the authors so limited they have to keep trotting out the tired old cliche ---- "delivery of the right care, in the right place at the right time". .... give me a break.