This appeared earlier today.
Govt names new e-health leadership
Preparing for the abolition of NeHTA.
By Paris Cowan
Apr 22 2016 11:51AM
Apr 22 2016 11:51AM
The federal government has named the 11 board members set to steer its new e-health directive as it prepares to establish the Australian Digital Health Agency in place of the soon-to-be-abolished NeHTA.
The ADHA will lead the Commonwealth’s revised approach to electronic healthcare, which has been driven by the recommendations of the 2013 Royle review into the failings of the personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR).
That review (pdf) found that the agency in charge of implementing the government’s e-health policy, the National e-Health Transition Authority, “does not have the confidence of the industry or audience that it is attempting to represent”.
It said the composition of the NeHTA board, which was made up of directors general from state, territory and federal health departments, failed to reflect the objectives of the agency. It also said stakeholder ideas and concerns were prone to be overruled or lost in the bureaucracy of the organisation.
Health Minister Sussan Ley in response pieced together a panel of health officials to work alongside bankers, health insurers, practitioners and private healthcare providers to head the ADHA.
The board will be chaired by former head of the South Australian health department Jim Birch.
In a statement, Birch said his board boasted “a strong involvement with health consumers and digital innovation, bringing the right skills mix to drive the innovation needed to meet the ongoing and future health needs of Australians”.
Read about the other nominees here:
Reading through the list it is clear that what is most missing is private sector e-Health expertise and rather little clinical expertise. I wonder what the new chair makes of the fabulously high quality Draft Strategic Plan he has been given to work with.
We can all wait and watch to see what happens - and certainly it is good there are some people outside the Government Sector involved - but I still rather fear little will change.
The last hope is the quality and experience of the CEO - who is yet to be appointed. An inspired choice could make all the difference - time will tell! I note from Google news the new chair says he is said to be 'utterly committed' to making the myHR work. Given it needs to be scrapped, or at least fundamentally re-designed so as to be unrecognisable from what we have now, that will be quite a trick, but he had to say that to get the job I bet!
David.
What was he doing all that time he was on the board? Wasn't he committed then? Has something changed? Flying pigs and lipstick.
ReplyDeleteI do agree the private sector does seem to be missing, however the board is supported by advisory groups (yes without a private hospital one). The real test will be if they leave key senior level people in place, my fear is without a complete change to the various secretary roles and NEHTA executives then any attempt to investergate the issues and transparently propose change will be lost, none in these roles currently have demonstrated a willingness to admit mistakes and look to resolve them, any attempts to do so in the future will be hampered IMHO unless a sweeping change in made. Everything thing from Terminology, Informatics, Architecture, Engagements, CCA and security and privacy has been in steady decline for many many years to a point were I question if DOH and NEHTA have a skills based qualified to lead a national program.
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