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This weekly blog is to explore the news around the larger issues around Digital Health, data security, data privacy, AI / ML. technology, social media and related matters.
I will also try to highlight ADHA Propaganda when I come upon it.
Just so we keep count, the latest Notes from the ADHA Board were dated 6 December, 2018 and we have seen none since! Its pretty sad!
Note: Appearance here is not to suggest I see any credibility or value in what follows. I will leave it to the reader to decide what is worthwhile and what is not! The point is to let people know what is being said / published that I have come upon.
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Robots, worms and satellites: How do you fight a cyberwar?
Total meltdown or death by a thousand hacks – how bad could a cyberwar get? And where is the line between espionage and all-out attack?
By Sherryn Groch
April 18, 2021
On the morning of June 27, 2017, it seemed as if Ukraine had slipped back in time and into the wrong century – almost nothing worked. Not the ATMs, the trains, the airports, the television stations. Even the radiation monitors at the old Chernobyl nuclear plant were down.
Ukraine, in the midst of a long and undeclared war with Russia, had been hit by mysterious blackouts before but this was eating through computer networks at a terrifying pace, turning screens dark across the country. And it seemed to be spreading further than intended, out through Europe and around the globe, paralysing hospitals and companies from London to Denver, even the Cadbury chocolate factory in Tasmania, and bringing swathes of the world’s shipping to a halt. By the time the culprit – a wild variant of malicious computer code (or worm) known as NotPetya – was stopped hours later, it had looped back into Russia, where it originated, and racked up about $US10 billion ($12.9 billion) in damage worldwide, making it the most expensive cyber attack to date.
No one died but the world had been given a glimpse of a new reality, beyond cyber espionage or sabotage. This was cyberwar. With modern life more connected than ever, you could unplug a nation before you’d even fired a shot.
Today, cyber weapons feature in the opening moments of most countries’ war plans, but they are deployed in peacetime, too, and the line between espionage, vandalism and outright attack is far from clear.
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https://au.datescloud.com/my-health-record-at-gympie-gympie-regional-library-2038325-305022654.html
My Health Record at Gympie
Thursday, 22 April 2021 ADHA Propaganda
10:00 - 11:00
8-14 Mellor Street, Gympie, Australia
My Health Record
How to use myGov and the My Health Record service to keep all your
health information together in one convenient place.
Gympie Library – Thursday 22 April 10-11am
Bookings essential: click here to book online
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/146700754907
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https://www.croakey.org/is-misinformation-the-public-health-challenge-of-the-21st-century/
Is misinformation the public health challenge of the 21st century?
Jennifer Doggett on: April 14,
Introduction by Croakey: The case for increased regulation of digital media platforms has been strengthened by a number of recent reports highlighting their role in undermining democratic processes.
These include revelations that Facebook repeatedly ignored internal advice that political leaders in 25 countries around the world were using the platform to deceive voters and harass opponents.
Closer to home are reports that the Australian Electoral Commission has asked Facebook to provide information about the multiple pages and profiles set up by Queensland MP Andrew Laming which masqueraded as news and community groups while providing politicised information supporting the Liberal National Party.
It’s also worth noting that social media is not the only form of media spreading dangerous mis and dis-information to achieve politically motivated outcomes.
In evidence given this week to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee as part of its inquiry into the state of media diversity, independence and reliability, a world leading climate scientist outlined the role of the mainstream Murdoch media empire in spreading misinformation on climate change.
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https://digitalhealth.org.au/blog/aidh-strategic-plan/
AIDH Strategic plan
Apr 15, 2021 | AIDH news, Publications
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health strategic plan for 2021-2025 was launched today with a focus on advocacy and member engagement to drive workforce reform.
AIDH CEO Dr Louise Schaper said the Institute was already working with many health professions on workforce advancement through accreditation and training. starting with the basics of digital health.
The nursing and midwifery workforces have started to upskill by assessing capability in public and private sectors and fixing a starting point to build programs for education and training.
“It’s time to take this to all of the health professions on a larger scale,” she said. “We are already accrediting individual professionals in digital health and other moves include educating senior Board members and executives on what they need to know in their own businesses.”
“The Institute’s new strategy embeds much more collaboration and cross-partnerships to take digital health out to every healthcare professional, whatever level of knowledge they have as a starting point.”
The strategy is publicly available here.
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16 April 2021
Worst nudge letter everrr: DoH loses plot while RACGP fails members
If you take the time to read one of the letters related to a so-called telehealth rule-breaker GP this week, you’ll quickly become dumbfounded as to why the Department of Health would even consider sending such a letter, given how obviously confusing the telehealth process has been and the dumb logic of their interpretation of the 12-month rule.
The pertinent (and bizarre) detail of the letter includes the fact that the GP in question allegedly failed to realise there had to have been a face-to-face visit within 12 months of each and every telehealth consult, not just the first one. Say you last saw the patient in person on 30 January 2020. You can claim for a telehealth consult on 29 January 2021, but not for a follow-up on 10 February 2021 – you have to see the patient in person before claiming telehealth again.
The rule was introduced in July last year, at the behest of the RACGP, to protect its members from patient harvesting by pop-up telehealth clinics. The idea was simply to promote good healthcare continuity with a patient, for the sake of better service delivery and safety.
The rule as interpreted by the DoH entirely defeats the spirit in which the RACGP attempted to have it put in place.
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Alleviating health and digital threats depends on technology
By Vijay Sundaram*
Tuesday, 13 April, 2021
As vaccination programs roll out in earnest across Australia, the healthcare industry faces its most significant test in a generation. However, while the industry contends with an extraordinary health threat, digital threats seek to exacerbate it. Concerningly, in November, the Australian Cyber Security Centre issued a warning having observed an increase in cybersecurity threats specifically targeting the healthcare industry.
As millions of Australians prepare for vaccinations, and the next stage in the gradual return to ‘normal’, the industry faces a momentous task safeguarding patient data and implementing the systems to successfully, efficiently and safely deliver a mass vaccination program. In order to do so, integration, automation and online safeguards have taken on greater significance.
Digital threats should not be ignored
When a global pandemic sweeps the world, it’s natural and understandable that the primary focus is on physical threats. However, cyber education is essential, too. While the situation in Australia has stabilised compared to many other countries, the only way to unburden healthcare providers and empower them to focus on vaccinations, and vaccinations only, is creating an environment in which cybersecurity isn’t forgotten, but actively monitored, managed and alleviated.
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https://which-50.com/opinion-my-health-record-is-the-ever-given-of-healthcare-transformation/
Opinion: My Health Record is the Ever Given of Healthcare Transformation
Home > Insights > Opinion: My Health Record is the Ever Given of Healthcare Transformation
This is the fist of two articles addressing healthcare transformation written by Jeremy Knibbs, the founder of Medical Republic
While COVID sparked a digital health revolution around the world, My Health Record, and those who keep standing behind it, along with a local medical software industry that is small and starved of capital, are combining to keep Australia’s digital health infrastructure in the dark ages
If you ask a senior health bureaucrat or politician in Canberra if digital health is an emerging problem in this country, they will likely laugh.
If savvy, they will point to the introduction of telehealth during COVID-19 as a revolutionary step forward — which it likely has been and will be even more so, over time. If they are more cocky, they will point to My Health Record (MHR), and spurt out some well-rehearsed line about it being a revolutionary infrastructure project which has put Australia at the forefront of digital transformation globally.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
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https://theconversation.com/how-safe-are-your-data-when-you-book-a-covid-vaccine-157869
How safe are your data when you book a COVID vaccine?
April 15, 2021 1.02pm AEST
Authors
Senior Research Fellow (Hon). Editor, Health Information Management Journal (HIMJ), University of Sydney
Adjunct Associate Professor, La Trobe University
The Australian government has appointed the commercial company HealthEngine to establish a national booking system for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Selected through a Department of Health limited select tender process, the platform is being used by vaccine providers who don’t have their own booking system.
However, HealthEngine has a track record of mishandling confidential patient information.
Previous problems
In 2019 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took HealthEngine to court for allegedly skewing reviews and ratings of medical practices on its platform and selling more than 135,000 patients’ details to private health insurance brokers.
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https://soundcloud.com/adhapodcast/electronic-prescriptions-answering-the-big-questions-part-2
Australian Digital Health Agency Podcast
Follow Australian Digital Health Agency Podcast and others on SoundCloud.
Learn how pharmacy workflows are affected and hear advice from professionals currently using electronic prescriptions as they answer questions raised by pharmacists.
Speakers: Dr Andrew Rochford (Facilitator), Regina Cowie (Australian Pharmaceutical Industries National Health Services Manager), Ben Wilkins (Clinical Reference Lead, Community Pharmacist) and Andrew Matthews (Agency Program Director Medicines Safety)
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Why leaders fear cyber attacks more than any other risk
Tim Wellsmore
The cyber security threat landscape is more complex and challenging than ever a year on from the start of the global pandemic. We’re seeing relentless and sophisticated cyber-attacks across the region that continue to shock and awe those in the industry. Those organisations on the receiving end of these attacks are often paying out millions of dollars to restore systems and return data.
There’s a strong need for new and innovative responses from business and government in the face of this persistent threat. An approach with merit is for government to work with and incentivise internet service providers (ISPs) to develop a protected internet connection. This would be of particular benefit for the broad range of consumers that are not well resourced or equipped to invest in their own cyber security solutions.
Known as the “clean pipe” approach, the idea isn’t new. It just hasn’t been driven hard to achieve its potential. This is unfortunate. After all, if we turned on the drinking taps at home and it came out brown or made us sick, we’d demand that the water company clean up the supply without a second thought.
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https://www.wqphn.com.au/events/79/328-ADHA-Webinar-My-Health-Record-Compliance-Sessions
ADHA Webinar - My Health Record - Compliance Sessions
Date: Apr 1, 2021 12:00:00 ADHA Propaganda
Understanding compliance requirements for accessing My Health Record – practical tips for Practice Managers
These one-hour sessions will equip Practice Managers and administrative staff with a sound knowledge of how to implement and maintain policies and procedures to govern access to the My Health Record within their organisation.
These demonstrations will be run multiple times each week and at varying times throughout the day.
Upon completion participants will be able to:
- Understand the legislative framework for accessing My Health Record
- Create and maintain security and access policies for My Health Record
- Manage My Health Record user accounts and training registers
- Understand the importance of Health Identifiers and correct system configuration
- Designate roles and responsibilities for practice staff engaging with My Health Record
- Understand when and how to access information contained within a consumer’s My Health Record
This education is CPD accredited by AAPM.
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Voice recognition deal just Microsoft’s latest random acquisition
Microsoft’s ability to make huge bets, while creating windfalls for entrepreneurs, is going to give competition authorities something to think about.
The Lex Column
Apr 13, 2021 – 9.37am
Call it the Microsoft put. The software titan’s organic expansion seems unstoppable. Yet its M&A strategy appears to be all over the place.
It acquired social network LinkedIn in 2016 for $US26 billion ($34 billion) and software development platform GitHub in 2018 for $8 billion. More recently, it has been chasing the motley social media crew of TikTok, Discord and Pinterest.
On Monday (Tuesday AEST), it confirmed that it would make its second-largest deal ever, buying voice recognition pioneer Nuance Communications at an aggregate value of $US20 billion.
Nuance is supposed to help Microsoft in its healthcare cloud offering — a specialty it has made a priority. Nuance is hardly a high flyer these days. In 2020, its revenue actually dropped 3 per cent to just under $US1.5 billion. Even so, the deal will not come cheap. The $US56 per share offer is more than double the price at which Nuance traded just before the onset of the pandemic.
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Why Nuance? Microsoft is making a $19.7 billion bet on ambient digital healthcare
Nuance's technology uses voice recognition, AI and natural language processing to streamline healthcare processes. Nuance will bolster Microsoft's Cloud for Healthcare significantly.
By Larry Dignan for Between the Lines | April 12, 2021 -- 14:26 GMT (00:26 AEST) | Topic: Cloud
Microsoft's move to pay $19.7 billion in cash for Nuance Communications is a bet that it can be a digital healthcare operating system that pulls its cloud portfolio into an industry being transformed.
The deal for Nuance comes as the enterprise and healthcare artificial intelligence company is just hitting its stride. Not only does Microsoft's purchase of Nuance make more sense than rumored talks for TikTok, Pinterest, and Discord, but the two companies are already partners and can drive revenue across the healthcare industry and enterprises.
Nuance's technology uses voice recognition, AI, and natural language processing to streamline healthcare processes. The company in recent years has shed units and businesses to double down on AI-driven healthcare under CEO Mark Benjamin, who will report to Scott Guthrie, chief of Microsoft cloud and AI businesses.
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Ruling in Epic vs Apple case a potential blow to Australia’s battle against tech giants
Australia’s battle against the big technology platforms has run into a potentially major problem, with a Federal Court Judge suggesting a case bought under Australian law needs to be tested first before a court in the US, where the commercial agreement in question was reached.
Taken literally this would mean deals with Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google and others would need to be tested in the US even if a complaint was made under Australian law on issues based in Australia.
The decision by Justice Nye Perram in the Apple and Epic Games case to stay proceedings until a US decision is made is likely to be appealed to the Full Federal Court.
Justice Perram has already granted leave to appeal but his decision, if allowed to stand, raises real doubts about the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s powers in such cases.
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The digital Swiss Army knife of the hospital ward
Wavelink
By Jane Allman
Thursday, 08 April, 2021
Technology is revolutionising the hospital environment, making it more efficient and safer for healthcare workers and patients.
With the right technology, nurses and doctors can be relieved of elements of their roles that can be frustrating and time-consuming, taking attention away from the core patient-centric elements of their work. When no longer burdened by inefficient and outdated communication systems, care-giving roles can be transformed, resulting in improved physical and mental health of staff and better patient focus.
The Manager of Wavelink’s Connected Health platform, Alan Stocker, demonstrated just how impactful technology can be in facilitating an efficient and productive care environment at this year’s Australian Healthcare Week. The Connected Health platform puts a plethora of resources — once spread across numerous machines and locations within a hospital — into a nurse or doctor’s pocket via a Spectralink Versity clinical smartphone device.
The rugged, purpose-built Android device is designed for the demanding hospital environment. Physically, it is built to withstand drops onto hard surfaces, harsh cleaning chemicals and operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At the start of a shift, staff members can use their ID badge to log onto the device, which automatically accesses the apps required for that person. At the end of their shift, they hand the device back in, keeping it in constant rotation.
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Planning in Australia for adopting artificial intelligence is inadequate, says robotics/AI expert Sue Keay
Australia is behind in developing a strategy for adopting artificial intelligence, a situation that’s impacting investment.
“We are not seeing the level of investment in artificial intelligence that we see in other countries, which is specifically targeted at AI,” said Sue Keay, an Australian robotics and artificial intelligence expert.
She said that in contrast, the US had just invested $US300bn into artificial intelligence to keep up with developments in the rest of the world.
Dr Keay said businesses with 20 people or less had a limited capacity to spend time investigating emerging technologies and how they could be applied to their business.
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https://wildhealth.net.au/is-age-a-barrier-to-video-consults/
9 April 2021
Is age a barrier to video consults?
Posted by Lydia Hales
Roughly half of all GP services in Australia were delivered via telehealth during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of GP and patient demographics – but age appears to be a barrier to video consults.
GP training and financial incentives might help increase the proportions of video consultations, which accounted for just over 5% of telehealth services in May 2020, according to economic and social researchers from The University of Melbourne.
The results follow speculation that video consults could attract a higher rebate than those carried out by phone, as discussions around permanency of the telehealth items continues.
Earlier in March, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed that telehealth services will continue to be funded as temporary items on the MBS until 30 June.
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Review of tech disinformation code promised after Mayfair 101 scandal
John Davidson Columnist
Apr 12, 2021 – 12.00am
Big Tech’s voluntary disinformation code will be “carefully reviewed” come June, after the Mayfair 101 scandal raised serious concerns about the role Google’s advertising technology plays in misleading the public, according to the Morrison government.
The voluntary Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation, which is managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, would also be reviewed, a government spokesperson said, in light of testimony given by Facebook, Google parent Alphabet and Twitter executives in the US last month, when Facebook called for reforms of how tech companies are held liable for misinformation and other harmful content on their platforms.
ACMA has until June 30 to report on whether its voluntary code, which covers both misleading advertising content and misleading social media content, was successful in limiting the misinformation that is rife on Facebook and other social media platforms.
Asked whether the Morrison government was planning to address misinformation revealed by the Mayfair 101 scandal – in which Google and Microsoft’s advertising platforms facilitated the misleading of Australian investors – a spokesperson for Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the government would use the ACMA review to examine the issue.
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https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2021/12/perils-of-recording-telehealth-consultations/
Perils of recording telehealth consultations
Authored by Cate Swannell
THE COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated rapid uptake and use of telehealth, exposing a “number of concerns potentially not previously contemplated by clinicians, patients and legislators”, according to the authors of an Ethics and law article published by the MJA.
“Recording of clinical conversations or processes may enhance patient and clinician participation, self-reference, research, education and funding,” wrote the authors, led by Dr Caitlin Farmer, a radiology registrar at Monash Health, and Dr Patrick Mahar, a dermatologist at the Skin Health Institute and the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
“In certain jurisdictions, however, clinical consultations or meetings may be lawfully recorded with or without participants’ knowledge, and may later be accessible to the patient, including for use in future legal or disciplinary proceedings, potentially stifling candid discussion,” Farmer and colleagues wrote.
“This and the challenging obligations relating to data management technicalities represent real risks for clinicians and health services.
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Comments more than welcome!
David.
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