http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2016-ley041.htm
Appointment of CEO for the Australian Digital Health Agency
Minister for Health, Sussan Ley, has announced the appointment of Mr Tim Kelsey as the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Digital Health Agency which is responsible for all national digital health services and systems.
Page last updated: 01 August 2016
PDF printable version of Appointment of CEO for the Australian Digital Health Agency - PDF 337 KB1 August 2016
Minister for Health, Sussan Ley, today announced the appointment of Mr Tim Kelsey as the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Digital Health Agency which is responsible for all national digital health services and systems, with a focus on engagement, innovation and clinical quality and safety.
“Most importantly, the new Agency is the system operator for the Government’s recently launched My Health Record System which is a secure, online summary of people’s health information that can be shared with doctors, hospitals and healthcare providers with the permission of patients. This gives people more control of their health and care and with access to new digital apps and online services the Australian community is benefiting from the modern information revolution,” Minister Ley said.
“I am, therefore, delighted to announce that following an extensive national and international search Mr Tim Kelsey has accepted the permanent role of CEO to head up of the Australian Digital Health Agency. He is internationally regarded as a leader in digital health, in both the private and public sectors, and has a proven track record in delivery of digital health services.”
Ms Ley said that previously Mr Kelsey was the first National Director for Patients and Information in NHS England. This role combined the functions of chief technology and information officer with responsibility for patient and public participation, marketing, brand and communications for the national commissioner for health and care services. He was also the first chair of the National Information Board in England which successfully oversaw design of a new digital health strategy for the NHS.
Before becoming a director of NHS England, he designed and launched NHS Choices website – the national online information service which has transformed access to apps and mobile digital services for patients and citizens in England. In 2000, he co-founded Dr Foster, an organisation which pioneered public access to online information about local health services.
More recently, Mr Kelsey has been working with Telstra Health to focus on ways to use its technology capabilities to support transformation in the costs and quality of healthcare in Australia.
‘He is the right choice for the appointment as CEO of the Australian Digital Health Agency to further the Australian Government’s commitment to use digital health to create a world-class health system for all Australians,” Minister Ley said.
Mr Kelsey will commence in his new CEO role with the Australian Digital Health Agency in mid-August 2016.
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David
Do we trust government and the new digital agency and its new CEO to not only keep out sensitive medical and health data safe - but also that the economic value of that data flows back into the public. OR am I just too seasoned to believe that the temptation will be too great and the leadership/governance to woeful and self-interested that I should also be distrustful of who will really gain the economic benefits.
ReplyDeleteCensus fail is about the growing mistrust of government to govern on behalf of all.
ReplyDeleteGosh, he wasn't at Telstra for more than a few months. Mmmm ...
ReplyDeleteAnother Big Corporate Crony becomes head of a Health Technology body. And the former CEO of NEHTA was from National Australia Bank. Why does this keep happening?
ReplyDeleteIMHO, because they (public sector managers) think its all about technology.
ReplyDeleteIt's not. It's not even about information.
It's about understanding the human body, detecting why and when it "goes wrong" and how to fix it.
Sure information is necessary, sure, IT is necessary, but unless you understand the real problems (to echo David's fundamental question) it's like throwing mud at a wall and watching what sticks.
A bit medieval, though. We've come a long way since then, it's called medical science. Anyone ever heard Dept of Health or NEHTA mention medical science?
It's like the drunk looking for his keys under a lamp post at midnight, even though he lost them in the dark - "'cos the light's better here".
To my mind, whilst there are many noble (but not necessarily well-thought through) aspirational goals it is the 'glue' (for want of a better name)that is so urgently needed to seamlessly drive collaboration and information sharing between doctors, pharmacists, consumers and other health service providers in the primary care space. If, or when, the 'glue' is deployed it will disrupt and globally transform the primary care environment. There is still a long way to go.
ReplyDeleteMedical science (extending my earlier comment) strongly suggest that a person’s health is directly related to three things:
ReplyDelete1. Genes (nature)
2. Environment (including, but not limited to, nurture)
3. Behaviour.
How many of those things are in myhealthrecord?
If they are it’s only by accident and have been put there by an enlightened health professional.
In fact, how many eHR systems contain this sort of information?
It's one thing to have "glue", it's another thing to have the right information being communicated across that glue.
Absolutely correct - as you say Bernard - "It's one thing to have "glue", it's another thing to have the right information being communicated across that glue."
ReplyDeleteLet me rephrase that a little bit - yes, the right information is information which is relevant, useful, necessary, trusted, can't be tampered with and is an inherent part of the routine functional operation of the 'system' under consideration.
The information forms an essential part of the "glue" with the other co-dependent part being the technology infrastructure that securely carries the information between those participants seeking to use the information.
Ian, I agree with your comment about the 'glue'.
ReplyDeleteWe can be certain that it is not about government nor is it about technology. The 'glue' is more encompassing than either and accommodates both.
The 'glue' also penetrates beyond primary care to encompass the whole patient journey.
And yes, when deployed it will disrupt on a global scale.
How long will be a function of how closed we are to new ideas, new concepts, and new methods of collaboration. At the moment it is not looking good.
Ian, I'm certainly not disagreeing with you.
ReplyDeleteIn fact "glue" might be needed in other places - e.g. to hold GPs together.
"EHRs a Major Factor in Physician Burnout, Panel Says"
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/866882
Wonder if NEHTA thought about that little unintended consequence.
I don't have a good feeling about this appointment....
ReplyDeleteHere is the the UKs opinion of his....
https://youtu.be/SgrZ9ZlTTIc
I agree John - "The 'glue' also penetrates beyond primary care to encompass the whole patient journey." However, ........... one should avoid extending the aspirational scope too far and focus initially on a ubiquitous pivotal solution within the primary care space.
ReplyDelete