Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.
General Comment
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Clearly the big news of the week was that telehealth support from Medicare is to become an ongoing program. One can only hope the Government has now worked out all the kinks!
Otherwise the best item is one that points out that the Government did not like how the NBN was rated globally so they got PWC to invent new better for the NBN metrics. Jeez!
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Medicare: Health Minister Greg Hunt confirms telehealth here to stay
Telehealth will remain a permanent fixture of Medicare as a hiccup in a potential COVID-19 vaccine is downplayed as a bump in the road.
Finn McHugh
NCA NewsWire
November 27, 20204:03pm
The centrepiece of this federal government announcement is $669 million to make telehealth services available to all Australians.
Telehealth is here to stay after the Health Minister confirmed it would remain in place after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service, which allows bulk-billed consultations online and over the phone, will become a permanent fixture of the Medicare system. It was expanded at the height of the pandemic to make social distancing possible during medical appointments.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the scheme had already led to 40 million online consultations.
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https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/racgp-welcomes-news-telehealth-is-here-to-stay
RACGP welcomes news telehealth is here to stay
The college wants GPs to be ‘front and centre’ in working with the Federal Government on a long-term telehealth service plan.
27 Nov 2020
‘Universal whole-of population telehealth …
will now be permanent,’ Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced in a Friday
27 November press conference.
‘There’s not been much good that’s come from COVID. One thing that has come
from COVID is the fact that we have skipped a decade and jumped from 2030 to
2020 for the delivery of telehealth for all Australians.’
At the time of publication, detail has not been released regarding how
permanent telehealth will operate or what funding is attached.
During the first wave of the pandemic, the Federal Government heeded
RACGP calls to expand Medicare-subsidised telehealth to
all Australians in a bid to keep GPs, staff and patients safe.
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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/telehealth-items-to-be-made-permanent/37763
27 November 2020
Telehealth items to be made permanent
COVID-19 Medicare RACGP Telehealth
Posted by Francine Crimmins
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says telehealth is set to become a permanent fixture on the Medicare Benefits Schedule, praising medical professionals for its success during COVID-19.
The announcement comes just two months after the temporary telehealth items numbers were thrown an additional lifeline that pushed their expiry back to 31 March 2021.
But doctors will now have to wait to see if the government follows through with making the items permanent before temporary bulk-billed telehealth expires early next year, and whether there will be any changes to the rebate structure.
Mr Hunt said that the fast delivery of telehealth for all Australians had been one of the few good things to come out of COVID.
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https://www.zdnet.com/article/my-health-record-document-views-up-as-records-near-23-million/
My Health Record document views up as records near 23 million
Record oversight agency says the modernisation of national health infrastructure will only further the uptake.
By Asha Barbaschow | November 24, 2020 -- 01:21 GMT (12:21 AEDT) | Topic: Innovation
The oversight body for Australia's My Health Record is expecting the modernisation of the country's health infrastructure will be a further "catalyst" for accelerating the use of the online medical file.
Speaking with media on Tuesday, Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) acting national health chief information officer Kerri Burden said the number of documents viewed within My Health Record has this year increased.
"In 2020, the number of documents viewed each week at public hospitals has increased to more than 100,000," she said. "This is showing that when information is being uploaded into the My Health Record system that the information is then being viewed.
"My Health Record use is growing, modernisation of our national infrastructure will be a further catalyst for accelerating this growth."
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COVIDSafe data 'incidentally' collected by intelligence agencies in first six months
By Justin Hendry on Nov 23, 2020 5:45PM
But not decrypted, access or used, IGIS says.
One or more of Australia’s key intelligence and security agencies “incidentally” collected data relating to the COVIDSafe contact tracing app in its first six months of operation.
But there is no evidence to suggest that any of the data was decrypted, accessed or used, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) has found.
The finding is contained in IGIS’s first report to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner on Covid app data [pdf], released on Monday.
The report, which looks at agencies like ASIO and ASD, said the collection occurred “in the course of lawful collection of other data”, which is permissible under the Privacy Act.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/software-glitch-changing-doses-gp-scripts-rhd-drug
Software glitch changing doses on GP scripts for RHD drug
The issue could result in potential under-dosing in patients with acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease
25th November 2020
By Kemal Atlay
A glitch in Best Practice software means the wrong dosages have been printed when doctors issue repeat scripts for a rheumatic heart disease (RHD) treatment.
SA Health has urged all GPs who manage patients with acute rheumatic fever or RHD to be aware of the issue when prescribing Bicillin LA injections, warning it could result in significant under-dosing.
The issue emerged after Pfizer changed the unit measurements for the long-acting penicillin from 900mg/2.3mL to 1,200,000 units/2.3mL in early 2019.
At the beginning of this year, a GP in South Australia reprinted an old script for Bicillin from a patient’s past prescription list.
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New smartwatch to help keep DV victims safe, record evidence of abuse
New technology developed to help women experiencing domestic violence is giving victims an added layer of security, and their abusers more scrutiny.
Emily Cosenza
NCA NewsWire
November 15, 202012:01am
Secret and secure technology that can be programmed to a smartwatch could be the key to helping at risk women stay connected and get much needed help at the time of crisis.
The StandbyU Foundation have developed a world-first solution to put control back in the hands of the victim with technology that can record what is happening so it can be used as evidence against the predator.
Women who face high to low risk family and domestic violence can simply click a button on their watch to activate an alert, allowing chosen support networks to listen in, find the victim and organise help for them.
The alert loops through a caller list of selected contacts – which comes through as a regular phone call – and can allow a conference call for all members who answer and so they determine their next move in order to help.
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https://www.bandt.com.au/study-68-of-aussies-dont-want-their-health-data-used-for-marketing/
Study: 68% Of Aussies Don’t Want Their Health Data Used For Marketing
The vast majority of Australians show a strong level of discomfort (68 per cent) with health and wellbeing brands using their data to market and advertise more appropriate products and services to them, according to a study published today by global tech communications consultancy Hotwire, in partnership with data and insights leader The Leading Edge.
Approximately the same proportion of respondents (66 per cent) said they were worried that companies and brands would exploit their health data, and an outstanding 81 per cent think that only health professionals should have access to them.
Further analysed in a whitepaper What Australians want from healthcare and technology: seven key principles for health marketing, the results provide insights for health brands and organisations on the way to engage efficiently with Australians, while considering their concerns about the way their health and wellbeing data are handled.
The data lockdown
More than one in four Australians (27 per cent) use health and wellbeing related apps on a daily basis. Despite the uptake in the use of healthcare digital devices and services in recent years, it is clear that Australians want to track and limit sharing their health data as much as possible. More than half (53 per cent) say they would never share their health or wellbeing data with any company or brand, only one in six (15 per cent) would share data with health care companies, or health insurers, and one in ten (11 per cent) with medical device companies.
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https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/
29 Nov 2020 8:00 AM AEST –
New standards open the door to safe and effective digital mental health care
The introduction of world-leading standards for digital mental health services in Australia is set to be a game-changer for the nation at a time when the delivery of high-quality mental health care has never been more important.
The announcement today of new National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has been embraced by the mental health sector and consumer and carer advocates.
The NSQDMH Standards will support the delivery of high quality and safe care including counselling, treatment and peer-to-peer support services via telephone, videoconferencing, websites, SMS, webchat and mobile apps. They encompass mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug services.
With one in five adults and one in seven adolescents experiencing a common mental health disorder each year in Australia – combined with unprecedented demand for digital delivery of mental health services this year – there are tangible benefits in being able to access safe and effective care on digital platforms.
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https://rpassistants.com.au/news/electronic-prescriptions-a-guide-for-pharmacy-assistants/
Electronic prescriptions: A guide for pharmacy assistants
November 26, 2020
Providing customers with the convenience and flexibility to choose how they get their prescriptions – electronic prescriptions are a big change to community pharmacy, one that is sure to transform the way pharmacy staff interact with their customers.
Implementing this new operating system will require significant change to pharmacy workflows and it’s important that all pharmacy staff are educated on electronic prescriptions, so that they can meet the needs of their community.
To help ensure a smooth transition towards electronic prescriptions, Guild Learning and Development, in partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency, have produced a new online module titled, Electronic prescriptions: A guide for pharmacy assistants.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/practice/app-review-iyarn-fresh-take-mental-health
App Review: iYarn - a fresh take on mental health
The app ask users to set priorities and focus on areas of their life they're neglecting
26th November 2020
The iYarn app puts a new spin on the mental health app formula.
The app asks users to nominate areas of importance to them — work, exercise, personal development, family, diet, mindfulness — and the amount of time they have devoted to each recently.
The results are shown in a colourful ‘wheel’ or pie chart, with the size of the slices representing each topic and how much time users feel they have devoted to it.
The idea is to encourage users to refocus on areas of life they may be neglecting, checking and readjusting the wheel as they go. The app suggests daily, but clearly it is up to the user.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nsw-govt-calls-on-ai-experts-to-join-new-committee-558322
NSW govt calls on AI experts to join new committee
By Justin Hendry on Nov 27, 2020 12:55PM
Wants advice on the development and use of the technology.
NSW government is calling on artificial intelligence (AI) experts to join a new committee that will advise on the appropriate use of the technology in the state.
The AI advisory committee, which is the first of its kind for any federal, state or territory government in Australia, was a key commitment in NSW’s inaugural AI strategy.
Chaired by the NSW government’s chief data scientist Dr Ian Opperman, the eight-person committee will play a central role in the development of the state’s AI assurance framework.
The framework will be used to determine the level of risk based on the data that the solution is using and the types of decisions it will generate.
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https://wildhealth.net.au/how-using-digital-medical-records-delivers-a-better-patient-experience/
How using digital medical records delivers a better patient experience
November 26, 2020
Close to 80 percent of all health care data is unstructured and remains an untapped resource for many organisations.
Under pressure to simultaneously reduce costs, provide high-quality care and comply with government regulations, hospitals and health care providers can no longer settle for labour-intensive, error-prone, manual paper handling. Physicians, nurses and other medical professionals need electronic access to all patient-related data at the point of care, wherever that may be.
Unfortunately, up to 80% of medical data is unstructured (such as patient discharge summaries, clinical notes, imaging and test results, etc.) and remains inaccessible and untapped after it is initially created.
Fast access to accurate data is not just important for compliance and audit reasons—it can often save lives by enabling clinicians to view digital medical records for rapid decision making, particularly if accessing remotely. These records must comply with Australian digitised paper record standards such as AS 2828.2, HL7, Secure Messaging, and ICD10.
Read this white paper to see how this can be accomplished so the care you provide in your hospital is superior and dependable.
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Alcidion expands partnership with NextGate to UK market
Key Highlights:
- Alcidion’s reseller agreement with NextGate now expanded to include United Kingdom and Ireland.
- Expansion strengthens competitive position in UK market as NHS transitions to digitised healthcare solutions and integrated care records.
Melbourne, Australia – Alcidion Group
Limited (ASX:ALC) is pleased to announce an expansion of its reseller agreement
with NextGate to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
In 2018, MKM Health (which was acquired by Alcidion in 2018) signed an
agreement to resell NextGate’s market leading Enterprise Master Patient Index
(EMPI) and Provider Registry solutions in Australia and New Zealand. Following
a successful two-year relationship, this agreement has now been extended to
also include the United Kingdom and Ireland.
NextGate is the global leader in healthcare enterprise identification, helping
healthcare organisations overcome the clinical, operational and financial
challenges that result from duplicate records and disparate data.
Alcidion’s reseller agreement with NextGate has already realised success with
two significant state-wide contracts in Australia. The Queensland Health
Referral Service Directory based on the Provider Index was delivered by
Alcidion working closely with NextGate. For the Victorian Department of Health
and Human Services Unique Patient Identification program, Alcidion supported
NextGate in delivery of their EMPI capability.
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Monash superbug project to mobilise genomics, digital health and AI
Monday, 23 November, 2020
A Monash University research team will harness the power of technology to help diagnose, treat and prevent antimicrobial resistance — one of the globe’s most pressing health concerns.
The SuperbugAi Flagship project — awarded $3.4 million from the Medical Research Future Fund — involves researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS) Department of Infectious Diseases, the Faculty of Information Technology (IT) and The Alfred’s Department of Infectious Diseases.
The innovative project will integrate genomics, electronic healthcare data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to address antimicrobial resistance in the healthcare system. The research will also create a tracking and response system that will lead to earlier detection of superbugs, personalised treatment for patients and prevention of outbreaks.
Lead researcher Professor Anton Peleg is one of The Alfred’s leading physician-scientists and is internationally recognised for his work in antimicrobial resistance. Professor Peleg said the project will apply advanced technologies in healthcare settings.
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InterSystems Releases HealthShare 2020.2
New enhancements expand FHIR API capabilities and data accessibility
SYDNEY, Australia, November 25, 2020 – InterSystems, a creative data technology provider dedicated to helping customers solve the most critical scalability, interoperability, and speed problems, today announced the availability of the latest version of the InterSystems HealthShare® suite of connected health solutions. Designed to improve overall value and accessibility of unified healthcare data, HealthShare 2020.2 is the formal release of product enhancements that have been made throughout 2020 in direct response to the changing healthcare landscape and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patients, providers, and payers need unimpeded health data sharing capabilities now more than ever. Through the application of HealthShare 2020.2, users can take advantage of InterSystems expanded HL7® FHIR® API capabilities to deliver “data liquidity” with connection to services such as Apple Health.
Expanded data coverage and FHIR R4 APIs for clinical, payment, and provider directory data included in the release provide the underpinning for the recently announced HealthShare CMS Solution Pack, which gives customers full data and application support to address the CMS Interoperability and Patient Access Final Rule. The InterSystems healthcare data model maps to FHIR profiles from CARIN Alliance’s Blue Button 2.0 implementation guide, and supports the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) v1 standards and Da Vinci Patient Data Exchange (PDex) Plan-Net standard for search and retrieval.
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https://developer.digitalhealth.gov.au/resources/faqs/basic-fhir-terminology-services-recording
Basic FHIR terminology services - recording
This recording provides an introduction to the NCTS products and services.
Topics include:
- A recap of the structure of CodeSystem, ValueSet and ConceptMap resources
- A recap of the basic FHIR SCRUD actions (Search, Create, Read, Update and Delete)
- Specific terminology operations; including $lookup, $subsumes, $expand, $validate-code, $translate and $closure
- Various terminology use cases and which operations are applicable
- Some tips and hints.
Products:
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Ramsay Health Care to implement Modeus’ HS8 electronic controlled drug platform in Australia
Dean Koh | 25 Nov 2020
Modeus’ HS8 electronic controlled drug register will be implemented across private healthcare provider Ramsay’s 36 hospital sites in Australia and completed by the end of 2020, the Australian healthcare software company announced.
WHAT’S IT ABOUT
HS8 is a comprehensive medication management software platform specifically designed for hospitals, enabling paperless controlled drug administration in all areas of a hospital including pharmacies, wards and theatres. It integrates with existing hospital software systems and improves medication governance and compliance via intelligent functions that help to reduce diversion and increase transparency with respect to controlled drugs.
THE LARGER PICTURE
Last May, Ramsay Health Care signed a multi-year digital network and telecommunications services deal with Optus Business. Optus will provide voice and data services for Ramsay’s facilities across Australia, giving healthcare professionals high-speed data services, streamlined network migration transitions and enhanced billing systems designed to improve accuracy.
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https://www.zdnet.com/article/australian-government-develops-its-own-metrics-and-ranks-nbn-highly/
Australian government develops its own metrics and ranks NBN highly
Department of Communications has chosen to deny reality and impose a view of its own.
By Chris Duckett | November 27, 2020 -- 03:33 GMT (14:33 AEDT) | Topic: Networking
A year after NBN decided it didn't like the idea of speed tests as a broadband measurement, the viewpoint has spilled over to the Bureau of Communications, Arts and Regional Research (BCARR).
In the case of the BCARR, it has paid PricewaterhouseCoopers to develop metrics that are more suitable to it. On the hit list was tossing out perennial chart-toppers like South Korea and Singapore.
"No country is easily comparable to another. For example, by global standards, Australia is wealthy and highly urbanised, but our population is also spread across a vast landmass," the BCARR said.
"Our income and geography mean that Australia is more readily comparable with Canada than with city states like Singapore, or densely-populated countries such as the United Kingdom."
With Singapore on the outer, the list of comparable countries included a country only 17 places higher in a ranking of places by geographic size, Qatar. The other nations deemed worthy of comparison included Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, the United States, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Canada, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Israel, France, Japan, and Italy.
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https://www.itwire.com/telecoms-and-nbn/consumer-complaints-about-telcos-increase-over-quarter.html
Monday, 23 November 2020 09:38
Consumer complaints about telcos increase over quarter
Consumer complaints to Australia’s telcos increased by 7.8 complaints per 10,000 Services- in Operation (SIOs) for three months of the July-September 2020 quarter, an increase over the previous quarter’s ratio of 7.4.
Australian telecommunications industry peak body Communications Alliance has just released its most recent Complaints in Context report for the July - September quarter, which allows comparison of the customer service and complaint handing performance of service providers, regardless of their size.
Communications Alliance CEO John Stanton said: “While the increase in complaints is disappointing, industry continues to work on improving customer experience and is looking at how we can learn from the results of this last quarter.”
The industry-driven report is published by Communications Alliance using complaints data provided by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) and SIO data supplied by participating providers.
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Enjoy!
David.