This appeared last week:
Future proofing Australia’s healthcare: Government launches a nation-wide Innovation Challenge
1 May, 2020: The Australian Digital Health Agency has today launched an Innovation Challenge to support the national COVID-19 effort and future proof Australia’s healthcare system.
It is seeking submissions from Australian digital health, engineering and biomedical industries to champion digital health innovation and help Australia get the most from its national digital health infrastructure.
Australia has a track record of innovation and scientific achievement in healthcare. A priority in Australia’s National Digital Health Strategy is to support a thriving digital health industry delivering world-class innovation. There is no better time for the Australian Government to fund our innovators by holding a competition to solve the most pressing problems facing the health system and our community.
Australian Digital Health Agency Chief Digital Officer, Steven Issa said, “COVID-19 has put health and wellness at the centre of attention for the community and brought intense focus on the ability of Australia’s health system to meet the challenge posed by this global pandemic. It has also highlighted the incredibly important role of digital technologies and the digital health sector to plan and manage health services and protect patients and clinicians by enabling the delivery of care in new ways.”
“Some of the world’s best innovators are here in Australia. The Australian Government stands ready to support them in what they do best – solve problems in new ways.”
“By running an Innovation Challenge, we will uncover the most innovative ideas at a time we need them most. We want these ideas to consider the extensive digital health infrastructure already in place – including healthcare identifiers, standards for data interchange and the My Health Record – so the ideas can be scaled across the country.”
“The Innovation Challenge will also support Australia’s digital economy now so that it can continue to excel into the future.”
“We know that collaborating with creative thinkers will not only enhance how we, as a nation, respond to this health emergency, it will also prepare us for future ones, helping to mitigate risk, improve health outcomes and most importantly, save lives.”
A range of partners across government, corporate and not-for-profit have already collaborated in the design of this challenge and will help run it with assessment of applications, participation in demos and practical assistance to successful solutions on their path to scale.
The Innovation Challenge will run for seven days and broadly covers three key themes: digital clinical care, digital social care and digital health population management and future preparedness. Innovators can enter the Challenge here https://innovation.digitalhealth.gov.au/.
Applications for the Innovation Challenge close at 11:59 pm AEST Sunday 10 May.
For questions about the Innovation Challenge please visit https://innovation.digitalhealth.gov.au/ or email: InnovationChallenge@digitalhealth.gov.au
ENDS
Media contact
Background Australian Digital Health Agency COVID-19 Taskforce
The National Digital Health Strategy 2018-2022 lays a solid foundation for the provision of healthcare through digital means. Our progress in delivering the Strategy creates an opportunity for the Agency to respond to the pandemic in a unique way that aims to add significant value to the Australian community. The Agency established a taskforce to support the national effort to fight COVID-19 by accelerating digital health adoption in Australia and championing innovation across the health sector. Throughout April, the Agency has created digital services that provide tailored information to citizens and businesses during this challenging time. One of the key focus areas of the COVID-19 taskforce is the Innovation Challenge for industry and academia/universities to promote cross-sectoral collaboration and speed to market.
About the Australian Digital Health Agency
The Agency is tasked with improving health outcomes for all Australians through the delivery of digital healthcare systems, and implementing Australia’s National Digital Health Strategy – Safe, Seamless, and Secure: evolving health and care to meet the needs of modern Australia in collaboration with partners across the community. The Agency is the System Operator of My Health Record, and provides leadership, coordination, and delivery of a collaborative and innovative approach to utilising technology to support and enhance a clinically safe and connected national health system. These improvements will give individuals more control of their health and their health information, and support healthcare providers to deliver informed healthcare through access to current clinical and treatment information. Further information: www.digitalhealth.gov.au
More here:
The partners in this Challenge – which is open until only the 10th of May include the AIDH, ANDHealth (Australia’s National Digital Health Initiative), The Digital Health CRC, the MSIA, Universities and so on.
One is left confused and wondering just what these keen and enthusiastic organisations would want the dead hand the of ADHA involved for? They must all know what a fickle partner Government can be!
My guess is that the ADHA is so bereft of ideas that it is hoping that some interesting stuff emerges that they can claim some credit for, and whose ideas they can copy, with a tweak here and there.
When asked about Intellectual Property the answer was:
“What are the contractual intellectual property arrangements?
The company will retain all their IP for their proposed solution for the purposes of the demonstration phase.”
What on earth does that mean?
The ADHA are clearly are hardly innovative on their own cause or we would not all still be stuck with the white elephant of the #myHealthRecord, after all this time!
While the ADHA is claiming to be a great partner no one should forget how badly its predecessor organisation handled some commercial relationships. As the saying goes, ‘those who supp with the Devil should use a long spoon’ Bluntly NEHTA were commercial thugs – to put it nicely.
Of course with the ADHA itself there is also the sad story of the app based access provider who had the rules changed under them and lost their business. (Tyde).
You can read the whole sorry story here:
My advice is to be very careful dealing with Government Agencies when you are bringing the ideas and innovation. Despite what Government says they can change their mind and no recourse is possible – Government Policy you know.
It eludes me as to how this could be core business for the ADHA, why on earth they are doing this and where the funds are coming from. Of course I could be totally wrong and this may be a really wonderful initiative which will make a real difference. I know some who feel that is true. Time will tell as it often does!
What is your perspective?
What is your perspective?
David.
I would like to see something come of this but I just do not see how the ADHA could organise something like this. It feels very much like a brain-fart initiative, there is a lot of that at present, lots of people with lots of bouncy balls hoping something will stick. Busy work I think it is called.
ReplyDeleteWhat would be nice is some insights into how they intend to support transition to commercially viable outputs with sustainable business models, that results in the IP being retained in Australia and a return on investment going back to support our economy.
The company will retain all their IP for their proposed solution for the purposes of the demonstration phase.”
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth does that mean?
It must be a typo of some sort surely. I can only interpret this as that once the purpose of the demonstration phase concludes the intellectual property belongs to someone or some entity other than the originating company. The digital tools and data processing required to support COVID19 as they keep referencing are far more sophisticated than their administrative system that stores digital clay tablets and would require more than a week of coding. I get the feeling the most they will attract is some blueprint for toilet paper that changes colour relevant to microbs.
As for the supporting organisations, it is simply a collective now that feed each other and lobby for each others existence. This whole event seems to tick a personal interest of more than a few stakeholders.
I missed this and as such missed the briefing, did anyone attend? if so do you have any insights as to "WHY" they are doing this and what might be the value in participating?
blueprint for toilet paper that changes colour relevant to microbs.
ReplyDeleteEven that might be to much for ADHA to wrap their heads around. Still that paper might be useful for the fully committed contract they will issue to the winner.
On March 7 there had been 72 cases of COVID-19 reported. May 7 there was 6,895 reported.
ReplyDeleteIn that time, how many times has the government claimed My Health Record as an essential, or even useful, tool in combating the disease?
None that I can find.
But they have spruiked the COVIDSafe app, an app that is obviously not up to the task.
The Federal government needs to have a long look at itself when it comes to healthcare - and just leave it to the states and the medical profession.
ADHA's Darian Eckersley was appointed 3 years ago as Director of Experience Design (!!) to improve the My Health Record’s UI/UX.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly he has come to life - FUTURE PROOF AUSTRALIA'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
"Darian Eckersley reshared a post for the first time in a while: Do you want to be a part of future proofing Australia’s #healthcare system? Enter the #AuInnovationChallenge and you could receive funding to create tomorrow’s #DigitalHealth solutions. Hurry, webinar briefing tomorrow (Tuesday, 5 May) 2-3pm. Enter now: https://lnkd.in/dZXntVs"
"Director of Experience Design"
ReplyDeleteThat's like hiring a painter to design an airplane.
Stupid. It might look good but wouldn't get off the ground.
Tells you as much about the people doing the hiring (incompetent) as the person hired (delusions of grandeur)
WCGW?
Wake up. This "Future proofing Australia's healthcare system" is just the first small step on the road to repositioning and repurposing the ADHA. Anyone who thinks otherwise is but a fool.
ReplyDelete"Future proofing Australia's healthcare system"?
ReplyDeleteWhat a sick joke.
It's all smoke and mirrors.
Why do you think this to be true ? Wake up. This "Future proofing Australia's healthcare system" is just the first small step on the road to repositioning and repurposing the ADHA. Anyone who thinks otherwise is but a fool.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me to be a simple hackathon concept that has been hijacked, nothing more sinister than a few wannabes seeking attention.
ADHA is last years gimmick, everyone is shifting to DTA and aged care.
ReplyDeleteBeta platform slated for September.
Deloitte has scored a $9.5 million deal with the Digital Transformation Agency to build out the first stage of the Facebook-inspired digital services platform that is tipped to replace myGov.
The big four consultancy was handed the six-month contract last week to further develop a prototype government digital experience platform (GovDXP) that it began building in January.
Face-book inspired?? Hmmmmm which bit I wonder :) Didn’t the PCEHR start liking itself to Facebook in the early days?
@2:57 PM You fail to appreciate (through ignorance, inexperience or simply naivety) that this is where GBHPs start out.
ReplyDeleteThe bandwagon gets bigger and bigger as the politicians believe that the new rhetoric is the way ahead. Forget the old - embrace the new.
As a consequence, everything grows out-of-control and those who have seen it all before (or know better) nash their teeth and wring their hands in horror as they futilely voice their valid concerns. Witness this blog.
GBHP - Great Big Humongous Projects
I simply asked why you thought it so. Appreciate the insults though, sorry you missed out on the promotion.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I appreciate your response. Sometimes the frustration, stupidity and wastage, gets the better of me. No insults intended. I'm pleased we're on the same page.
ReplyDeleteMay 11, 2020 3:58 PM. Re: MyGov facelift. You would expect the government to put the brakes on these sorts of non-critical undertakings. With the PM ( Scott Morrison) wanting to fiddle with jobseekers and jobkeepers you would think OUR money is better invested in those who are being impacted by this pandemic. There is a flood of talent on the market, why use a consultancy firm? Why not deploy a army on developers and designers?
ReplyDeleteOf simply pour the cash into keeping families out of poverty?
May 11, 2020 10:28 PM You raise some interesting opportunities. I fear though the bureaucracy will have more excuses than commonsense.
ReplyDelete$9.5 million plus variations puts a lot of meals on tables and rooftop over heads.
Compare Australia's Federal Cabinet with this lot:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/gigphw/oh_canada/
Start at the top. We've got a lawyer. Previous Health Ministers have included Dutton and Abbott.
We don't even have a science minister.
Maybe that's why we never hear anything of the "clever country" anymore.
It's not just the ministers, it's their use of political advisers and the lack of scientific staff in the public sector who can speak truth to power.
ReplyDeleteIt well may explain stupid, ill informed decisions like this one:
The government bought 1.5 million antibody tests. They can't be used
https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-government-bought-1-5-million-antibody-tests-they-can-t-be-used-20200512-p54s2v.html