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."

Monday, March 08, 2021

Weekly Australian Health IT Links – 08 March, 2021.

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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Quite a few interesting bits of news -  with vaccines and Aged Care getting a good deal of coverage.

Enjoy the browse!

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https://www.zdnet.com/article/service-nsw-pushes-past-117-million-covid-safe-check-ins/

Service NSW pushes past 117 million 'COVID safe' check-ins

Meanwhile, vaccination information will now be uploaded to My Health Record via a new Clinician Vaccine Integrated Platform that delivers information directly to the Australian Immunisation Register.

By Asha Barbaschow | March 3, 2021 -- 03:51 GMT (14:51 AEDT) | Topic: Innovation

New South Wales residents have been using a QR code scanner within the Service NSW app to check into businesses across the state to help health authorities with COVID-19 contact tracing.

The mandatory use of the Service NSW QR code was first announced in December, with Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello revealing in early January there had been over 30 million check-ins since the feature went live.

On Wednesday, the state government revealed over 117 million check-ins have been clocked through the Service NSW app.

The app, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, has been downloaded more than 4 million times, which is approximately 75% of NSW's adult population.

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https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/eprescribing-now-available-for-majority-of-austral

ePrescribing now available for majority of Australians

More than 3.5 million electronic prescriptions and repeats have already been generated by prescribers and dispensers across the country.

Matt Woodley


03 Mar 2021

The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has said it is ‘now confident’ that any patient who prefers an electronic prescription (ePrescription) should be able to have it dispensed at their local community pharmacy.
 
The declaration was made in a recent communique that also revealed that nearly 12,000 GPs have engaged in ePrescribing, while more than 95% of all Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)-approved community pharmacies are dispensing ePrescriptions.
 
Dr David Adam, a representative of the RACGP Expert Committee – Practice Technology and Management (REC–PTM), told newsGP the availability of ePrescribing will ‘definitely’ improve convenience and safety for patients.
 
‘It’s been a project that’s been in the works a long time and it’s really good to see that it’s coming to fruition,’ he said. ‘There’s been a lot of hard work by doctors and pharmacists and software developers.’
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/best-practice-advises-gps-write-longacting-insulin-scripts-hand

Best Practice advises GPs to write long-acting insulin scripts by hand

It follows a software glitch linked to the new active ingredient prescribing rules

4th March 2021

By Antony Scholefield

Best Practice is advising GPs not to use its program to generate scripts for long-acting insulin due to a glitch linked to the new active ingredient prescribing rules.

The advice was issued after a doctor noted that prescriptions for Novomix, a mix of long-acting and rapid-acting insulin, were being converted to a different formulation.

As a precaution, the company has urged 25,000 doctors using its software to hand-write all scripts for long-acting insulin until the glitch is sorted out next week.

The problem has likely been in place since Best Practice updated its software to accommodate the new rules demanding that the active ingredients of prescribed PBS medications are printed first on any script generated using a computer.

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/apple-watch-ecg-gets-australian-tick/live-coverage/487e78eae1abd8473fbe267fc5993268

4 March, 2021

Apple Watch ECG gets Australian tick

CHRIS GRIFFITH

Australia's health regulator has finally approved Apple Watch's electrocardiogram feature. It means Apple watches will be capable of the advanced heart monitoring functionality announced in 2018.

This ECG approval comes three weeks after the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) approved the irregular rhythm notification feature on the watch.

The two functions work together. The irregular rhythm notification feature alerts users to any irregular heart beat. It periodically reads your heart rhythm in the background.

The ECG readout is an on-demand feature. You install the ECG feature on the watch. Once that's done, you open the ECG app on the watch, rest your arms on a table and hold your finger on the watch's digital crown to take the reading. Apple says the recording takes about 30 seconds.

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https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/royal-commission/technology-stakeholders-embrace-rc-report/

by Judy Skatssoon March 5, 2021


Posted in Royal Commission

Technology stakeholders embrace RC report

Aged care technology stakeholders are thrilled to see recommendations around innovation feature prominently in the royal commission’s final report, saying technology can enhance service delivery and help older people remain at home.

A key recommendation includes the establishment of a grant-funded assistive technology and home modifications category from July 2022 that will provide aids, equipment and services to support living at home.

“We’ve been advocating for that for over two decades and I didn’t think I would see that in my lifetime,” Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council (ACIITC) executive lead Anne Livingstone told Community Care Review.

“The role that technology is playing to keep older people safe and secure and live more independent live can’t be underestimated, and there are significant recommendations from the royal commission to advance that.”

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https://www.crn.com.au/news/how-tech-could-help-fix-australias-broken-aged-care-system-561710

How tech could help fix Australia’s broken aged care system

By Ben Moore on Mar 5, 2021 10:30AM

The Australian Government should invest in ICT to keep our ageing populations safer, according to findings in a report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, released on February 26.

There could be opportunities for Federal or State IT service providers should the Government choose to follow the recommendations of the Royal Commission.

The term technology or technologies is mentioned 26 times in the 107 pages that constitute the Royal Commission’s recommendations for improving the care that at-risk ageing members of society receive.

The recommendations include a push for wider availability of assistive technologies to improve independence (recommendation 34), and requiring every aged care provider to adopt a digital care system (recommendation 68) that would connect with the My Health Record system.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/oxford-university-says-research-not-affected-after-expert-flags-covid-lab-hack-561604

Oxford University says research not affected after expert flags Covid lab hack

By Staff Writer on Mar 1, 2021 12:23PM

Investigating a digital intrusion.

Oxford University said it was investigating a digital intrusion after a researcher said he had seen evidence that a laboratory researching Covid-19 had been hacked.

The breach took place in mid-February and occurred at the Division of Structural Biology, known as Strubi, which has been carrying out research into COVID-19, according to Alex Holden, founder of Wisconsin-based Hold Security.

Forbes first reported the breach.

Strubi is distinct from the Jenner Institute, which develops the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine in partnership with AstraZeneca.

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https://www.govtechreview.com.au/content/gov-digital/news/digital-platform-launched-to-upload-vaccination-data-to-mhr-295860037

Digital platform launched to upload vaccination data to MHR

Thursday, 04 March, 2021

A new digital platform will enable healthcare professionals to upload COVID-19 vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). The Clinician Vaccine Integrated Platform (CVIP) will support the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccination program, which commenced in February. The platform provides the technology needed for vaccination providers to meet their legislative requirements to report the vaccinations to the AIR.

Agency Chief Digital Officer Steve Issa said CVIP is expected to be useful for vaccination providers who do not currently have digital systems in place to report to the AIR. NT Health was the first jurisdiction to use CVIP in its Alice Springs vaccination clinic. The Agency is having discussions with other jurisdictions about how CVIP might be used at clinics in other states and territories, while they upgrade their clinical systems to meet the new AIR reporting legislative requirements.

Vaccination information reported to the AIR is automatically uploaded to My Health Record. The latest upgrade to My Health Record included a consolidated immunisation view, enabling people to see details of all immunisations, including their first COVID-19 vaccine and the next vaccination due date. Immunisation history statements are also available from Medicare Online and the Express Plus Medicare Mobile app.

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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/recent-media-releases/digital-platform-to-report-vaccinations-to-the-australian-immunisation-register

Digital platform to report vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register

Published 3 March 2021

Healthcare providers can now access a new digital platform developed by the Australian Digital Health Agency to manage vaccinations and report vaccination information to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

The Clinician Vaccine Integrated Platform (CVIP) will support the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccination program which started in February. It provides the technology needed for vaccination providers to meet their legislative requirements to report the vaccinations to the AIR.

Agency Chief Digital Officer Steve Issa said, “CVIP is expected to be particularly useful for vaccination providers who don’t currently have digital systems in place to report to the AIR.”

NT Health was the first jurisdiction to start using CVIP in their Alice Springs vaccination clinic. The Agency is having discussions with other jurisdictions about how it might be used at clinics within other states and territories, while they are upgrading their clinical systems to meet the new AIR reporting legislative requirements.

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/article/roadmapping-technology-in-aged-care-672697880

Roadmapping technology in aged care

Tuesday, 02 March, 2021

The Technology Roadmap for Aged Care in Australia was published in 2017 to improve the aged-care industry’s understanding of the role technology can play in building a robust and sustainable aged-care system in Australia.

The Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council (ACIITC) scoped and commissioned this research and developed the Roadmap, which acknowledges three critical issues faced by the aged-care industry:

  • An increasing large cohort of senior Australians at a population level not experienced before.
  • Rapid development of new technologies.
  • Significant reform of the aged-care sector, particularly following the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
     

Recognising the need for technology to underpin the delivery of aged-care services and ensure independence, choice and control for consumers, the Roadmap examined the evidence for technology’s contribution to positive ageing.

A positive impact on the lives of older Australians

A review of the literature revealed that technology has played a significant and positive role in the aged-care space. It has been adopted to assess the needs of older Australians, to promote independent living, reduce social isolation and increase social connection. It has helped to reduce the risk of falling, to manage chronic disease, improve medication management and support people with cognitive issues, including dementia. And it has been used to reduce or manage depression, enhance wellbeing and support family carers.

Given the speed of technological change, ACIITC undertook an update review in 2019, releasing a report of the most disruptive technologies, including those that support positive ageing and those that support the care of older people. The comprehensive report is aimed to help advise aged- and community-care providers when making strategic decisions for the future of care.

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Monday March 1, 2021

Australian Breast Device Registry helps with patient safety

Almost 50,000 Australian women have had their breast devices registered, mostly in the past five years, to help facilitate faster notification of safety issues with the devices, leading to improved health outcomes. 

The Commonwealth-funded Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR), led by Monash University, was established in 2015 to track the long-term safety and performance of breast devices and benchmark the quality of surgery involving breast implants, breast tissue expanders and a soft tissue substitute called matrix.

According to the ABDR 2019 annual report, 11,960 patients who had breast device surgery were included in the registry in 2019, bringing the cumulative total to 49,563 registered patients between 2012- 2019.

Monash University academic lead, Professor Susannah Ahern said the registry data demonstrated high levels of quality and completeness, enabling it to assist healthcare providers to contact their patients during 2019.

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https://www.seek.com.au/job/51647807?type=standout

Senior Privacy Advisor

Australian Digital Health Agency

About the Agency

The Australian Digital Health Agency is responsible for national digital health services and systems, with a focus on engagement, innovation and clinical quality and safety. Our focus is on putting data and technology safely to work for patients, consumers and the healthcare professionals who look after them.

About the Role

The Senior Privacy Advisor is responsible for ensuring that the Agency is compliant with Digital Health legislative and privacy regulatory frameworks in order to support the sound delivery of the Agency's outcomes. This role involves advising on major internal projects to ensure privacy compliance, both in development and ongoing management. This role will also support the continuous development and improvement of the Agency's regulatory frameworks, including the development and delivery of training to staff.

Skills and Experience

To be successful in this position you will have demonstrated experience working in an Agency or Organisation's privacy functions coupled with the ability to interact, engage and foster trustworthy relationships with the senior team members, Executive Team, the Board and its Committees.

The Senior Privacy Advisor will be responsible for the following, but not limited to:

  • Providing strategic and tactical advice to the Agency's business units and Executive (including in support of governance bodies and legal services) so the Agency's activities and products are informed by and meet Commonwealth legislative frameworks and requirement
  • Identifying and managing strategic privacy risks arising from the Agency’s responsibilities as the My Health Records System operator and as a Commonwealth Agency bound by the Australian Government Agencies Privacy Code.
  • Building capacity and practice in ensuring the Agency meets its regulatory obligations and community expectations in its handling of personal information.
  • Delivery of privacy training to staff, including the review of existing training material and working with other business areas to identify further training opportunities.
  • Maintaining a robust framework, processes and systems for the privacy aspects of the Agency's digital systems (including the My Health Record System), ensuring compliance with Commonwealth privacy and security legislation and requirements

You can view the position description here

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Alcidion signs contract with Te Manawa Taki DHBs for Electronic Medication Management

 

Highlights:

  • First strategic implementation of OPENeP in Southern Hemisphere with Te Manawa Taki DHBs (total of five DHBs) in New Zealand
  • Initial pilot project will be undertaken to the value of $0.6M over ~6-7 months
  • Should the pilot be successful, a subsequent rollout to up to 5 DHBs is covered by the contract
  • Builds on Alcidion and Better relationship in the UK (Dartford & Gravesham and South Tees) and provides a reference site for further contracts in New Zealand and Australia

Melbourne, Australia: Alcidion Group Limited (ASX:ALC) is pleased to announce it has signed a contract with New Zealand’s Te Manawa Taki (TMT) region District Health Boards (DHBs) for a pilot implementation of Better’s OPENeP Electronic Medication Management solution.

TMT stretches from Cape Egmont in the West to East Cape and is in the middle of the North Island. The region comprises five DHBs: Hauora Tairāwhiti, Taranaki, Lakes, Bay of Plenty and Waikato. These boundaries take in the major population centres of Gisborne, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Tauranga and Hamilton.

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https://events.humanitix.com/librarymuseum-health-my-way-workshop-3

Albury Library Museum

Library Museum - Health My Way workshop 3

Tue 18th May 2021, 10:30 am - 11:30 am AEST

Event description

A new tech program to support health and well being for the over 50s.

It is more important than ever that doctors have access to up to date patient medical information.  My Health Record is an online summary of your key health information, including vaccinations, allowing you to control your health information securely, in one place.

Health My Way is a new tech program for the over 50s to support health and well-being through digital tools, supported by the Australian Digital Health Agency.

The program will help you to become more confident using your phone, iPad or computer to understand and manage your health.

(Be Connected is a free Australian Government initiative, supported by the Australian Digital Health Agency)

Bring your own smart device or use one of ours.

Morning tea provided.

Bookings essential, number are limited.

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https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=fd57c855-7c0b-4767-b446-c84f3847f779

Mass data breach by the Australian Government - how almost 10,000 asylum seekers had their privacy compromised 

Macpherson Kelley

Australia March 1 2021

For the first time in Australian history, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has found victims of a mass data breach should receive compensation for non-economic loss.

the data breach & the OAIC investigation

In early 2014, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) unintentionally released a detention report on the DHA website which disclosed personal information of 9,251 asylum seekers. This included information such as: names, gender, citizenship, why the detainee was detained, and where they were being detained.

Every person held in detention on Christmas Island at the time was identified. Given this, the following complaints were made to Australia’s privacy regulator, the OAIC:

  • an individual complaint, on 25 March 2014; and
  • a joint complaint by 1,297 affected asylum seekers, on 30 August 2015.

Consequently, the OAIC commenced an investigation into the practises of the DHA (formerly the Department of Immigration and Border Protection), on 23 April 2014.

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https://www.afr.com/technology/hackers-offer-stolen-nsw-government-data-for-sale-20210302-p576ym

Hackers put stolen NSW government data up for sale

Max Mason and Michael Roddan

Mar 2, 2021 – 10.37am

Hackers claiming to have access to data stolen from the NSW transport department, including a demand for documents and correspondence by disgraced former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, have put snippets of information online to promote a ransom or sale.

The hacking group, Clop, posted previews and screenshots of stolen data from Transport for NSW, including documents relating to a Country Regional Network project tender from 2019 and confidential steering committee papers about new trains from 2016.

The posting includes an October 21, 2020, request from the NSW upper house for documents from a range of ministerial offices and state government agencies and interests, and representations made by Mr Maguire. Mr Maguire’s romantic relationship with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was made public earlier in October.

“Currently, the criminals have simply published a small number of screenshots, presumably to demonstrate that they do indeed have the data,” said Brett Callow, a threat analyst with cyber-security company Emsisoft.

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https://www.healthcareit.com.au/article/trials-covid-19-vaccine-passport-system-commence-sydney-flights

Trials for COVID-19 vaccine passport system to commence on Sydney flights

Roy Chiang | 03 Mar 2021

In this trial run, Air New Zealand airlines will require passengers to utilise the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Travel Pass application to prove that they have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus before they are allowed to board the plane and continue with their journey. This will aid in the facilitation of clearance for travellers at border health checkpoints in both New Zealand and Australia.

How it works
The Travel Pass smartphone app will provide passengers with updated information about the tests and vaccines which they need to receive before being granted entry to their destination. This streamlines the health verification process by informing customers of the steps needed to take their next international trip safely. When an individual is inoculated, the medical centre securely sends the information to the smartphone application which can then be cross-checked against the vaccination requirements for the country which the individual is trying to enter. Subsequently, based on the passenger’s travel itinerary, the application sends an “Ok to travel” notification to inform both the airlines and immigration authorities that they meet the country’s COVID-19 health requirements. This health information is kept confidential and secure as the customer would have to grant permission prior to the sharing of this information with the airlines company or border control.

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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/554060/Mercy-Radiology-empowers-patients-with-new-portal.htm

Mercy Radiology empowers patients with new portal

Sunday, 28 February 2021  

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Mercy Radiology has gone live with a patient portal allowing patients to book and change appointments, as well as view their radiology results.

The organisation has also implemented a referrer portal to allow referring clinicians to book appointments and view results. 

Both went live in October last year and are being refined and enhanced as part of an ongoing iterative development process.

Mercy Radiology is getting 350 online bookings and around 250 views of images and reports through the patient portal every week. 

Alexis Stewart, director of strategic progammes at Mercy Radiology, says the portal has sped up a patient’s time to diagnosis by reducing a process that previously took around 20 working days, down to three days on average.
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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/554743/Ambulance-Care-Summaries-viewed-electronically-across-SI-hospitals-.htm

 

Ambulance Care Summaries viewed electronically across SI hospitals

Thursday, 4 March 2021  

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Ambulance Care Summaries were viewed more than 18,000 times last month by hospital staff working across the South Island, via Health Connect South (HCS).

An integration between Orion Health's Health Connect South and the St John and Wellington Free Ambulance systems means clinicians at four of the South Island’s DHBs can view all Ambulance Care Summaries for a patient within their clinical portal.

St John went
live with an electronic Patient Report Form system in October 2015, but previously this ePRF was printed off in EDs and any information needed for the hospital record had to be manually re-entered into the HCS portal.
ED physician at Christchurch Hospital James Weaver says the digital process means the summaries are available immediately for ED staff to view and the process saves considerable time for St John ambulance officers in printing them off. 
“Anyone involved in a patient’s care can access them at any time without having to find the notes and like with any piece of paper, there was always a risk of things going missing,” he says.
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https://www.zdnet.com/article/nbns-hfc-pause-leaves-homes-in-limbo-as-copper-switch-off-forges-ahead/

Homes in limbo as copper switch-off forges ahead despite NBN's HFC pause

Leaving a 90-year old woman without a home phone service for weeks.

By Adam Turner | March 5, 2021 -- 05:13 GMT (16:13 AEDT) | Topic: Networking

A 90-year old Melbournian woman -- living alone and reliant on an emergency alert bracelet -- was left without a home phone last month. Where responsibility lies regarding the lack of phone services is unclear.

Brighton's Margaret Burchill had her home phone service cut on February 18 as Telstra Wholesale switched off the copper to her building, despite the fact that new connections in her area were put on hold as part of NBN's HFC pause

The company responsible for rolling out the NBN postponed new HFC connections at the start of February, due to a shortage of HFC Network Termination Devices (NTDs) caused by COVID-19-related chipset shortages. The HFC connection schedule is expected to resume in May or June.

"Disconnections have only been revised for HFC customers who were scheduled to be disconnected from February to April 2021," according to an NBN spokesperson.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-to-start-consulting-on-gigabit-speeds-for-fttc-561759

NBN Co to start consulting on gigabit speeds for FTTC

By Ry Crozier on Mar 5, 2021 6:50AM

With a similar tiering construct to HFC.

NBN Co expects to start consulting with industry this month on the extension of its highest speed tiers, including up to gigabit, to part of its fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC) network.

An update to the company’s product roadmap reveals plans for a “consultation of home superfast and home ultrafast tiers for FTTC by use of G.fast”, spanning March and April this year.

NBN Co said late last year that it intended to introduce up to gigabit services into the FTTC footprint sometime in the 2021 calendar year, though CEO Stephen Rue asked not to be held to that timeline.

Though it will depend on the outcome of the consultation, it would appear that the introduction timeframe has firmed significantly.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-to-resume-new-hfc-orders-from-may-561546

NBN Co to resume new HFC orders from May

By Justin Hendry on Feb 26, 2021 3:43PM

After securing NTD supply amid global chip shortage.

NBN Co is expected to resume taking orders for new hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) services from late May at the earliest after securing a fresh supply of network termination devices.

The network builder paused HFC sales earlier this month due to the global shortage of chips, warning that it could be several months until they could resume.

Chips are used in the network termination devices (NFD), or connection boxes, that are installed at customer’s premises.

But NBN Co has now advised it has reached an agreement with its NFD supplier that will allow new HFC orders to recommence “from the end of May or early June”.

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DIGITAL HEALTH IN THE HEADLINES

 

Each week, ANDHealth brings you a selection of the latest news and reports on digital health and related matters from Australia and around the world.

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Enjoy!

David.

 

20 comments:

Tony Meadows said...

The Department of Health has selected HealthEngine to build the booking platform that will underpin the federal government’s Covid-19 vaccination information and booking service.

Cannot believe this mob got a gig so close to such senate data. The smell of rotting fish is overpowering

Anonymous said...

How does this work with other booking systems? And how is this value add to what we have in place already? Surely we track immunisations every year.

Anonymous said...

The immunisation register just records name and vaccine administered.

The government wants to collect more data than that. They want to know where people live, country of birth and language spoken (and possibly other data) so that they can identify which communities are avoiding getting a jab.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Tony Meadows. HealthEngine have hardly proved to be a safe bet with people’s data. You would think an alternative would have been a better choice. Even the App Store customer comments are obviously bot generated. Are governments no longer to see through the wool?

Anonymous said...

AnonymousMarch 08, 2021 10:22 PM - probably more reason why HealthEngine should have been overlooked on this one, not exactly a bedrock of trust.

Paul Daylesford said...

Does anyone now where public ally available designs are for this? I am simply interested in how the other fine booking apps might be supported? I do not use HealthEngine and I do not believe my local practice does either. Like others I have little faith in HealthEngine after their less than honest handling of data in the past.
Lots of talk on standards and interoperability but reality is they still think in singularities.

Anonymous said...

Given that vaccinations have already begun, the development is likely to be a panic. App development is hard at the best of times, in a panic problems are pretty well guaranteed. Just how useful is Covid-Safe?

Long Live T.38 said...

Yes - and given this is a platform and not a simple app, probably even more difficult. However being a platform and build on modern principles it should support all other pre-existing booking systems. I am guessing Cybersecurity and privacy folks have been told to take a ticket and wait outside.

I to agree with others, HealthEngine is not a great brand to be do this. But like having coke a cola running a health and well-being initiative

ADHA Staffer said...

Does anyone now where public ally available designs are for this? - can’t say I do. ADHA is only interested in the application passing validation to enable communication with the My Health Record. Would not be to concerned with timelines. This product has been in development for a while. Contract award is just an output of a process. HealthEngine where tapped a while ago.

Peter Padd said...

Contract award is just an output of a process. HealthEngine where tapped a while ago.

We are certainly seeing a breakdown in good governance and good government - not a direct result of the pandemic but it has amplified and accelerated it. Checks and balances are in place for very valid reasons -under visuals and organisation impatience is not a excuse to blow away public accountability and due process

Anonymous said...

Even in "normal" social media, the government isn't getting a good rap:

Seen on reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/m0w1ji/what_could_go_wrong_healthengine_to_pay_29/

What could go wrong? "HealthEngine to pay $2.9 million for misleading reviews and patient referrals" (August 2020) yet "HealthEngine to build Australia's vaccine booking platform" (2021)

ACCC: HealthEngine to pay $2.9 million for misleading reviews and patient referrals
https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/healthengine-to-pay-29-million-for-misleading-reviews-and-patient-referrals

ITNews: HealthEngine to build Australia's vaccine booking platform
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/healthengine-to-build-australias-vaccine-booking-platform-561889

This is ridiculous!

Sarah Conner said...

GPs clinics, as well as other approved health service providers like pharmacies and state-run vaccination clinics, will be able to use the platform where they don’t already have a booking system.


HealthEngine said the booking platform, which is being “fast-tracked” to meet the deadline , would allow clinics, particularly those without existing booking systems, to “get online quickly”.


What a load of old bollocks as my mum would say. Has all the ingredients of a “ministerial extended leave for personal reasons” written all over it

Anonymous said...

The silence by ADoHA on this is quite telling. Looks like someone is in someone’s back pocket. Peel back a layer or two at HealthEngine and you will discover some vested interests amongst their backers. Does not paint a rosy picture.

Long Live T.38 said...

I would have thought the well known and publicised antics and unlawful behaviour by HealthEngine would be enough. That sort of conviction would exclude you from working in most areas of government. Seems handling personal information and datasets is exempt.

Why have they taken this step? Who awarded it? And why were others turned down?

Sarah Conner said...

Some publically state all this picking on Healthengine is just politicians, and we should celebrate an Aussie company leading this charge. So international companies misusing personal health and medical data is bad - homegrown fraud is good???

It says a lot about some and the organisations they represent.

For clarity, see pulse IT blogs.

Anonymous said...

@10:45 AM re pulse IT Blog. I found Shane Solomon's comment most interesting and somewhat 'curious'. Who is he?

Shane Solomon 2021-03-13 11:33
I am shocked and disappointed with this article. It is a matter of pride that we have an Australian company capable of standing such a solution uo so quickly. It has nothing to do with PR. Why the attack on Health Engine and undermining of Australian digital health? Report on the capability, and leave the political slander to others please.

Anonymous said...

re Shane Solomon

You'll find his bio here:
https://www.caligohealth.com/about

Anonymous said...

Oh him. Did he have anything to do with the VIC HealthSmart Project?

Anonymous said...

Regarding the comments in the pulse it article - I do hope someone is okay, a very odd set of comments.

ADHA Staffer said...

March 15, 2021 11:12 PM - it is a standard response - usually said by those seeking to game the system.

As for who endorsed HealthEngine? Not sure but you would assume it was MSIA, ADHA, ADIH or a combination. That would carry suffice me political capital. I am sure some horse trading took place and opportunities in high ranking roles lobbied as a thank you.