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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A pretty quiet week other than the usual run of security breaches in the sector. It really is beyond a joke!
We have also seen all sorts of nonsense regarding the #myHealthRecord and Aged Care
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/telehealth-key-tackling-cvd-women-lancet
Telehealth key to tackling CVD in women: Lancet
The global report says those in rural areas and Indigenous women are being left behind when it comes to cardiac care
17th May 2021
By Jo Hartley
Telehealth is key to delivering more equitable cardiovascular care for women, say Australian researchers who have taken part in a global study of the issue.
The recommendation is one of two specifically set out for Australian and New Zealand in The Lancet report, which calls for urgent action to reduce the incidence of CVD in women.
The all female-led commission, made up of 17 experts from 11 countries, found heart, stroke and vascular disease in women was understudied, under-recognised, underdiagnosed and undertreated.
The committee identified two areas of specific concern for Australia and New Zealand. These included persistent barriers to equitable healthcare and access to specialised cardiac services for women in low-income and remote areas.
They recommended an increased use of telehealth for women in remote and rural areas.
The second area was the high incidence of CVD prevalence and mortality among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
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https://www.innovationaus.com/agency-cuts-lead-to-tech-work-outsourcing-fears/
Agency cuts lead to tech outsourcing fears
Denham
Sadler
Senior Reporter
17 May 2021
The key agencies tasked with delivering the government’s billion-dollar digital spend are facing staffing and funding cuts, leading to concerns the funding will flow straight to private contractors and consultants, and do little to improve expertise in the public sector.
Last week’s federal budget included a $1.2 billion digital economy strategy, with funding for a range of tech projects and digital transformation efforts.
The large bulk of spending went to ongoing projects, with more than $200 million over two years for work to develop a new version of the myGov platform, and more than $400 million for “enhancements” of My Health Record.
The government also allocated more funding for GovERP, a standardised back-end technology platform across the public sector. But the amount was kept secret for commercial-in-confidence reasons.
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Genomics industry making headlines at HealthData21
Australasian Institute of Digital Health
Friday, 14 May, 2021
Australia’s new genomics industry alliance, InGeNA, will bring together representatives from the key sectors of diagnostics, pathology, technology and pharma at its first national conference in Melbourne from 27–28 May.
Genomics is the focus for the first day of the annual health data conference of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH), HealthData21. The Victorian Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, the Hon Jaala Pulford, will open the conference, which also features Australian genomics leader Professor Kathryn North AC.
InGeNA Chair David Bunker said the industry group wants to help bring the vision of precision health to fruition, where Australian citizens are the beneficiaries of a health system that has fully integrated genomics into its DNA.
“The genomics industry has a significant role to play in delivering on the promise of genomic medicine and its integration into healthcare,” Bunker said.
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by Sandy Cheu May 21, 2021
Posted in Technology
Aged care provider uptake of My Health Record remains low
Residential aged care facilities have just over two years to adopt the national health record system, which has poor uptake to date, an industry forum has heard.
In its response to the aged care royal commission final report, the government said it would support residential aged care facilities to adopt My Health Record by June 2023.
As of 25 April, 10 per cent of residential aged care facilities registered for My Health Record but only 3 per cent have used the system, a spokesperson from the Australian Digital Health Agency told Australian Ageing Agenda.
“The key factor impacting registration and use is connectivity in residential aged care facilities,” the spokesperson said.
Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council chair of the National Home Care Group Anne Livingstone said findings of the Residential Aged Care Clinical Software survey of 230 residential aged care providers and facilities highlights this lack of e-health record connectivity.
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How Australia's aged care sector can improve digital health adoption at home
A report shares insights into how the country's older population perceives health technologies in their homes.
May 20, 2021 05:12 AM
The Global Centre for Modern Ageing, a non-profit research group based in Australia, has published a report that shares the concerns and thoughts of the country's older population in implementing and integrating health technologies in their homes.
Prepared in partnership with Google Chrome Enterprise, the report titled "Inspiring new models of care: Digital health in the home," details the challenges and opportunities for the country's healthcare industry.
It ultimately suggested that coordinated effort is needed to reskill the industry's workforce, validate and shed light upon the most suitable technology, and design models of care that will not compromise quality care provision.
FINDINGS
Based on in-depth interviews with 32 participants, including community members, clinicians and aged care providers, stakeholders have different priorities in their provision of digitally enabled healthcare. But all of them agreed that better health outcomes and more proactive, preventative, and predictive healthcare are priority areas.
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https://www.watermarksearch.com.au/job/branch-manager-data-insights-and-design
Branch Manager, Data Insights and Design
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Sydney
Industry: Government
Reference: 69112
Contact email: search@watermarksearch.com.au
Job description
There has never been a more critical time to accelerate the use of seamless, safe and secure digital health services to improve the health of all Australians. The Australian Digital Health Agency plays a central role in delivering connected healthcare solutions on behalf of the government. The Agency is at the forefront of facilitating new models of care across the whole health continuum and is currently playing a critical role in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and consumer demand.
Now is a fantastic time to join the Agency, under the guidance of an exceptional new Chief Executive and a revamped organisation structure. Leadership capability, collaboration, innovation, and delivery maturity are core requirements as the Agency is committed to delivering exceptional customer outcomes.
Part of the Digital Strategy Division, reporting to the Chief Digital Officer, the Data, Insights and Design branch is the human centred engine of the National Digital Health Strategy. This Branch manager will lead and manage, data driven, insights led, human centred, design and innovation. The key focus will be translating the national digital health agenda into a practical workplan to bring to life digital health delivery and benefits realisation. Working within the Agency and with external stakeholders you will lead the co-design of innovative and future focused products, roadmaps, research, benefits frameworks and dynamic reporting functionality. Keeping abreast of emerging and future technologies to identify potentially applicable multi modal opportunities will be implicit in this role.
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Software Developer Community Announcement
HIPS v8.2
The Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) has released a new minor release of its HIPS middleware product:
· HIPS v8.2
Key improvements
New Immunisation View for easy access on patient landing page
The Patient Summary landing page now displays a panel of immunisation data sourced from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) section of the patient's Medicare Overview, along with the ability to view the Immunisation Consolidated View (ICV) document when it is available in My Health Record.
New integrated Patient Management page for enhanced usability
The new Patient Management page has replaced the previous Advanced Search and Quick Search results pages. The functionality of both pages has been consolidated into the new page, and now enables users to search for patients, register patients, access relevant HIPS functionality for patients and manage adding and removing patients from a user’s “My Patients” list on a single page.
New site configuration option for improved control
This controls which page the View My Health Record menu item goes to in HIPS UI. Options include: PatientList or PatientSearch.
For manually registered patients, this determines whether HIPS UI should generate MRNs automatically when registering patients or allow manual entry. This is configurable for facilities that do not have a PAS feed.
Defect fixes and minor enhancements
Defect fixes and minor enhancements for HIPS UI and HIPS Core have been included in this release.
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National Flu Vaccination Program Officially Launches
Seasonal influenza vaccines are now available through community pharmacy and GPs around the country, with a record supply to ensure everyone has access to the vaccine.
Date published: 20 May 2021
Media type: Media release
Audience: General public
Seasonal influenza vaccines are now available through community pharmacy and GPs around the country, with a record supply to ensure everyone has access to the vaccine.
Approximately 5 million Australians have already had their 2021 flu vaccine, with over 20 million vaccines being made available through community pharmacy, GP’s and dedicated flu clinics this year.
It is important to get the flu jab from now to ensure you are protected at the peak of the season which is usually between July and September.
If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to call your GP, community pharmacy or other vaccination provider and organise your flu shot.
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Vaccine hub glitch books Pfizer for under 50s
When NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian last week announced the official rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for residents aged 40 to 49 would happen “within weeks”, she had not taken into account what appears to be a NSW Health glitch which would shorten it to just one.
Australians aged between 40 to 49 have already begun booking Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at the mass vaccination hub at Olympic Park, despite Ms Berejiklian on Monday announcing vaccinations were only open to a select 16,000.
“When availability arises at NSW Health clinics people aged 40-49 who have registered their interest are contacted and offered appointments, ensuring as many people as possible have access to the vaccine and NSW Health makes maximum use of its available supply,” a statement to The Australian read.
The department declined to specify what criteria were used to contact applicants.
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Dr Google will check your skin, hair, nails
Google has announced an artificial-intelligence powered tool that alerts you to issues with your skin, hair and nails. It could be a rash on your arm or a menacing spot. You take three snaps of the area in question with your phone, upload them, and Google’s AI algorithms do the rest.
You are asked questions about your skin type, how long you’ve had the issue, and about other symptoms.
Google announced the new tool at its Google I/O annual conference underway in the US.
The AI model matches your images against 288 conditions, and offers you a list of possible conditions that you can research further.
Google doesn’t claim to offer definitive diagnosis. It is steering clear of giving online AI-inspired medical advice. Instead it throws up photos of conditions it deems similar to your own, and suggests you see a doctor to take an issue further.
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https://www.miragenews.com/have-your-say-gp-interface-with-residential-563254/
May 20, 2021 10:58 am AEST
Have your say: GP interface with Residential Aged Care
Australian Medical Association
Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council (ACIITC) in collaboration with the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) is conducting a research into the use of clinical software by the residential aged care facilities (RACFs).
The survey aims to capture a snapshot of how RACF are currently placed in respect to clinical software and its use. The data collected by this survey, along with findings from focus groups involving aged care providers, general practitioners, and technology experts will provide evidence for future projects and support for aged care.
The survey is currently open for GPs who visit patients in RACFs and can be accessed here: https://www.research.net/r/RMQTRMF
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https://www.itwire.com/business-it/withings-launches-health-devices-that-monitor-overall-health.html
Monday, 17 May 2021 10:49
Withings launches health devices that monitor overall health
In a bid to improve the well-being of Aussies, Withings encouarges Australians to make a lifestyle change. As such, introduces two devices that can monitor accurate blood pressure and can even tell an artery’s age.
Today, May 17, is World Hypertension Day. 1.2 million (5.6%) Australian adults aged 18 above suffer from a heart related or vascular disease condition (and one billion around the world live with hypertension), according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. As a response, French consumer electronics company Withings is raising awareness to help Australians change their lifestyle.
Withings introduces two health devices that monitor overall health. The BPM Connect and Body Cardio Scales both monitor key vitals related to heart health.
The BPM Connect is a Wi-Fi blood pressure monitor that provides medically accurate blood pressure and heart rate measurements with immediate feedback on the device and full data history saved within the Withings Health Mate App.
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https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=4245f3b0-abe9-4c73-a6af-f7dccbc93aa0
New myGov impersonation email scam alert
Australia May 10 2021
The ATO and Service Australia have warned the community about a new email scam that claims to be from myGov.
The fake email includes screenshots of the myGovID app and asks people to click a link to verify their identity using a “secure form”. It takes them to a fake myGov page requesting personal identifying information and banking details.
ATO Assistant Commissioner Ben Foster said that the new phishing scam contains classic warning signs that it is not legitimate, for example, asking people to click a link to confirm their details and spelling errors. The scam was all about collecting personal information from victims rather than gaining access to live information via myGov or myGovID.
If any person receives an SMS or email that looks like it is from myGov but contains a link or appears suspicious, they can report it to ScamWatch.
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https://www.itwire.com/security/waikato-hospital-network-affected-by-cyber-security-incident.html
Tuesday, 18 May 2021 12:42
Waikato hospital network affected by 'cyber security incident'
By Sam Varghese
Hospitals that come under New Zealand's Waikato District Health Board have suffered a "cyber security incident" which has caused a complete outage of its information services.
A notice posted by the WDHB on its website at 11.45am New Zealand time (9.45am AEDT) said external assistance had been sought to address the incident.
"We are at the early stages of identifying what has happened, and are unable to provide further detail at this stage while we investigate the incident," the statement said.
"The appropriate government authorities have been advised of the situation.
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https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/unisa-cyber-attack-hits-staff-email-20210519-p57td5
UniSA cyber attack hits staff email
Julie Hare Education editor
May 19, 2021 – 5.58pm
A cyber attack at the University of South Australia in the early hours of Sunday morning resulted in widespread disruption, as emails were affected and PCs and laptops disabled.
“We believe the issue has been contained, with no data breaches identified,” said vice-chancellor David Lloyd in a statement.
“We are working to restore affected systems as soon as possible, but unfortunately, it is quite likely that staff email will be impacted for the next few days.”
In addition to the email disruption, the university’s IT support desk revealed a string of issues, including student access to VPN and online applications and a disabled drive.
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Domain hit by cyber attack, warns users to be careful with rental inquiries
By Zoe Samios
May 20, 2021 — 10.28am
Real estate listings portal Domain is warning users to be careful when trying to secure rental properties on its website after a cyber attack allowed an unauthorised third party to access personal information and demand deposits.
Domain chief executive Jason Pellegrino has contacted the Australian Information Commissioner and other relevant authorities about the scam, but warned users that some personal information - such as phone numbers and email addresses - may have been obtained in the attack.
“We have identified a scam that used a phishing attack to gain access to Domain’s administrative systems to engage with people who have made rental property enquiries,” Mr Pellegrino said in an email, seen by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. “We understand the scammers then contacted some of these people by email to suggest that they pay a ‘deposit’ to secure a rental property on a website nominated by the scammer. Importantly, we have had no reports made by an individual directly to Domain who had fallen for the scam.
“There is a risk that some of your personal information may have been accessed by an unauthorised third party that has obtained access to Domain’s systems as a result of a scam targeting one of our systems,” he added. “It is not yet clear how many users were affected by the scam.”
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Ireland tests decryption key for health systems after ransomware attack
By Staff Writer on May 21, 2021 1:00PM
NCSC works to ensure tool is not a trick.
Ireland said on Thursday that experts were examining a decryption tool that had been posted online that might help unlock IT systems disabled by a massive ransomware attack on its health service operator.
The government said it had not paid and would not pay any ransom in exchange for the purported key. It did not comment on reports that the gang had threatened to make reams of patient data public next week.
Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) shut down its networks last Friday after the attack that it blamed on an international cybercrime gang.
The ransom attack has crippled diagnostic services, disrupted Covid-19 testing and forced hospitals to cancel appointments.
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Rugby organisations trial VR eye-tracking tech for detecting concussions
Thiru Gunasegaran | 20 May 2021
Rugby-governing bodies World Rugby, New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia will be trying out NeuroFlex – an eye-tracking technology that runs on virtual reality – to aid in diagnosing and managing concussions.
Developed by Saccade Analytics, a technology solutions provider for neurological care, NeuroFlex is currently being trialled in the 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman – a rugby competition in Australia and New Zealand.
WHAT IT DOES
NeuroFlex, a fruit borne from three decades of research and development, is a test based on a set of scientifically validated oculomotor functions. According to a statement by World Rugby, data from the test is analysed within seconds through the NeuroFlex software that uses a proprietary algorithm to generate an accurate, quantitative and metrics-based report, which is then used to diagnose and manage concussions.
During the opening round of the Super Rugby game, the test was used alongside the present head injury assessment (HIA) protocols to determine whether the eye-tracking system enhances the HIA process, which is presently running at 90% accuracy in elite competitions.
The test will also be used within the six-stage graduated return-to-play process to monitor players returning from injury and protect their health.
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Osler Technology launches 'Netflix-styled' healthcare education app
Thiru Gunasegaran | 18 May 2021
Osler Technology, an Australian developer of online healthcare portfolios and learning applications, has unveiled a new education platform for healthcare professionals.
WHAT IT DOES
The My Osler app provides resources to aid in learning, such as modules, podcasts, quizzes, articles, procedures and scenarios. It is designed for students and healthcare professionals in acute care.
Through paid access, users can leverage its ePortfolio function, which offers tools such as a logbook, self-reflection journal, CPD diary, feedback app and career planner.
The app is now available for download on both iOS and Android devices.
WHY IT MATTERS
High-quality educational materials in the healthcare field are hard to find and poorly funded, particularly in online learning, says Dr Todd Fraser, chief medical officer at Osler Technology.
"Many people are creating the same content over and over, but it is sub-scale and underfunded. We believe that providing excellent educational materials appeals, and as we continue to grow, we can attract the funding to provide these resources broadly," Fraser told HealthcareITNews Australia.
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New Zealand to upgrade IT systems for breast and cervical cancer screening programmes
The enhancements will enable the government to screen more women for both cancers.
May 16, 2021 11:34 PM
The government of New Zealand last week announced its plan to upgrade the technologies behind its screening programmes for breast and cervical cancers by 2023.
WHY IT MATTERS
New Zealand records approximately 3,200 people getting diagnosed with breast cancer each year, resulting in around 600 deaths. To address this, the government introduced BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA) – its national breast cancer screening programme – to provide free mammography screenings every two years for women aged 45-69 who have no symptoms of breast cancer. The programme operates on an opt-in model, enabling women to choose if they want to get tested.
However, the "ageing IT infrastructure puts the programme at risk", says Dr Ayesha Verrall, associate Health minister for women's health.
"It lacks the flexibility to be easily upgraded to meet the needs of the community, and is no longer supported well by vendors," she added.
To this end, the government has allotted up to NZ$55.6 million ($40.1 million) in a major upgrade to the programme's IT system this year. Another NZ$10 million ($7.22 million) has been earmarked to catch up on missed breast cancer screenings during the community quarantine. The country already invests over NZ$60 million ($43.3 million) each year in providing breast cancer screening services around the country.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/vic-budget-pumps-300m-into-digital-services-cyber-security-564832
Vic budget pumps $300m into digital services, cyber security
By Justin Hendry on May 20, 2021 6:40PM
Including $50m for 'cyber safe Victoria'.
The Victorian government has earmarked more than $300 million in its 2021-22 state budget to improve digital services, uplift cyber security and modernise core systems.
Budget documents released on Thursday show the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) as the clear winner, with more than $100 million in new funding over the next four years.
It follows significant funding in last year’s budget to create Digital Victoria, a new entity aimed at centralising and simplifying IT services.
The bulk of the funding will flow to the ‘cyber safe Victoria 2021’ initiative, with $50.8 million set aside over the next four years to “protect public service from cyber attacks”.
The funding will be used to continue to improve “government cyber security controls and early detection of cyber risks”, building on a $7.5 million investment in last year’s budget.
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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/566254/Budget-invests-400-million-in-data-and-digital-health-.htm
Budget invests $400 million in data and digital health
Thursday, 20 May 2021
NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth
Today’s budget announced a $400 million investment in data and digital to enable health system transformation.
Also, up to $116 million will be invested over the next four years to transform the Ministry's Health Sector Agreements and Payments systems.
The $400 million includes
funding for the National Health Information Platform, which is renamed Hira.
Budget 2021 promises investment of $230 million for operating funding over five
years and $170 million for capital funding over ten years for ‘Data and Digital
Infrastructure and Capability’.
The budget papers say the funding will enable implementation of the health
system reforms and improve health system performance.
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TPG Telecom customers fleeing 100Mbps NBN tier in search of a better deal
End of NBN promotion for 100Mbps Home Fast tier sees users shifting up and down in search for value.
By Chris Duckett | May 21, 2021 -- 02:01 GMT (12:01 AEST) | Topic: Networking
When it comes to users jumping between NBN plans in the quarter to the end of March, there is one telco that stands above all others, TPG Telecom.
For the three-month period, the telco reported 468,000 fewer users on 100Mbps speed plans, but it saw an extra 335,000 premises move onto 250Mbps, and 113,000 extra 50Mbps plans.
The end result meant instead of being TPG's most popular tier in December, the 215,000 users on the 100Mbps now trail behind the 663,000 50Mbps connections, 426,000 on 12Mbps, 336,000 on 250Mbps, and 311,000 on 25Mbps plans.
At the same time, the number of TPG users on the 500-100Mbps Home Ultrafast shot up in the quarter from 352 to almost 63,000 users.
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https://www.afr.com/technology/nbn-flicks-staff-by-zoom-amid-service-problems-20210520-p57tkw
NBN sacks staff by Zoom amid service problems
Paul Smith Technology editor
May 20, 2021 – 4.14pm
Government-owned telecommunications giant NBN Co has told 50 employees they will be sacked in what it says is a continual evolution of the company, as internet service providers agitate for a solution to failing service standards due to a lack of technicians.
Company insiders told The Australian Financial Review that affected staff were instructed to work from home on Tuesday and assigned five-minute online video meetings with senior executives, during which they were told their roles would be made redundant.
The roles affected were not in field services, but believed to be in office-based roles. A spokesman for NBN refused to confirm the details, saying it was NBN company policy not to comment on individual or team employee matters.
The job losses come after a purge last year that targeted 800 staff in the then 6300 strong company. At the time, NBN chief executive Stephen Rue said the completion of the initial network rollout would reduce the number of contractors employed, and that in turn would decrease the number of permanent staff required.
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NBN Co pushes back HFC sales restart as workforce system bugs bite
By Ry Crozier on May 17, 2021 3:22PM
Customers left waiting for connections.
NBN Co has delayed the restart of new hybrid-fibre coaxial (HFC) orders, this time due to problems with a backend system used to assign new connection and assurance jobs to contractors.
The company initiated a pause on new HFC orders at the start of February due to the global chip shortage, which left the company without an adequate supply of network termination devices (NTDs) that are installed at customers’ homes.
NBN Co had anticipated restarting orders as early as the end of May, however this has now been retracted, with no ETA for resumption.
The further delay is due to well-publicised problems with a new workforce scheduling system and mobile app introduced by NBN Co uses to assign connection and assurance - repair - jobs to its contractor workforce.
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https://www.afr.com/technology/nbn-under-fire-as-telcos-rage-about-cancellations-20210514-p57s04
NBN under fire as telcos rage about cancellations
Paul Smith Technology editor
May 17, 2021 – 9.00am
Australia’s internet service providers are heading towards a showdown with NBN Co over escalating problems caused by the government-owned monopoly supplier of broadband services, regarding major customer service failings, particularly cancelled service appointments.
NBN called an emergency online meeting with the likes of Optus, Telstra, TPG, Vocus and Aussie Broadband on Monday, in an attempt to appease growing anger among its retail service providers (RSPs) about problems that have worsened due to a bungled change to a new field operations model and work scheduling system.
However, the RSPs, who spoke to The Australian Financial Review, said NBN needed to quickly sort out its problems and raise its customer service standards to recognise that it was harming the brands of its resellers.
“I think it is symptomatic of where NBN is at in its own development, where it really needs to shift its focus from being an infrastructure provider, a builder of networks, to being a service organisation,” Optus vice president of regulatory and public affairs Andrew Sheridan said.
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Enjoy!
David.
15 comments:
Not a promising sign that along with billions of dollars to “improve “ Government IT we see a significant reduction in staffing levels. These cutbacks will not be made in the culture, well-being or other homeopathic based teams but will cut from real and much needed talent pools.
And if anyone thinks the bureaucracy will change then
During a grilling by Labor Senator Katy Gallagher, Labor demanded to know what lessons had been learned.
“I asked the Department ‘has anything changed in the way the Department responds to incidents at Parliament House since March 2019’?,” Senator Gallagher said.
“The answer given is ‘there have been no changes to these policies’. Is that the case? Mr Stefanic?”
In response, Department of Parliamentary Services secretary Rob Stefanic said there were no changes to existing policies.
“Um, that’s correct senator,’’ Mr Stefanic replied.
Looks as though Services Australia is taking over the government IT world
‘Large reduction’ in DTA funding and responsibilities
Denham Sadler
https://www.innovationaus.com/large-reduction-in-dta-funding-and-responsibility/
"There has been a “large reduction” in the Digital Transformation Agency’s funding and responsibilities, with a number of its key projects moved to other agencies, its chief executive Randall Brugeaud has confirmed.
Speaking at a Senate Estimates hearing on Monday evening, Mr Brugeaud said the agency would shift away from service delivery and project management and instead focus on delivering whole-of-government advice and strategy.
He also confirmed that responsibility for the myGov redevelopment and digital identity projects has been moved away from the DTA and handed to Services Australia."
Maybe The Department of Health could focus on what it should be doing - policy and regulation and leave everything else to someone else - the states.
Services Australia could then re-imagine (don't you love euphemisms?" myhr into an optional adjunct to the Medicare system that facilitates access to national databases like the immunisation register, organ transplant register, advanced care planning register.
Maybe someone has hit the government with a clue stick? With a deficit/national debt the size of a small mountain, the government will need to make as many savings as it can. myhr and ADHA are not core business, so they must be in some economist's cross-hairs.
Denham Sadler's story [‘Large reduction’ in DTA funding and responsibilities] is incredible. The bit that caught my eye was the CEO's admission at Senate Estimates that he had no idea his organisation was being transferred over to PM&C!!
The current government's underlying 'political agenda' (I believe) is that in order to find the huge dollars to fund ongoing budget commitments the following strategy must prevail, which is -
.... introduce numerous 'shifts' of major projects between departments which allows for a major reallocation of funding (funding cuts) and downsizing of personnel (staff cuts) all camouflaged under the umbrella of a strategic 'reorganisation' and a change in an organisation's (project's) focus and responsibilities.
This reinforces my long held belief that the world of healthIT is so incredibly complex that, in order to develop and implement good stable ubiquitous solutions, a stable organisational structure, culture and leadership are essential foundational ingredients. These must be inoculated against and quarantined from the vagaries, fickleness and instability, of government politics. This, although not impossible, is a tough ask given that government funding underpins the entire health system.
That is a reasonable assessment. I wonder though if you are giving to much credit? Seems this is a rolling back of gains made is changing the APS mindset. DTA scared the living daylights out of some department bigwigs. Services indeed, let them eat cake.
Have your say: GP interface with Residential Aged Care
Do hope they publish all the results as raw data. Would be interesting to understand the on-the-ground thinking.
Long Live T38May 25, 2021 9:16 PM - with ADHA involved you can make a safe bet it won’t be. Like the ADIH all they can achieve is pointless surveys and creating more steering committees to drive and guide planning based on coffee induced visions.
7:19 AM. You might be correct. Past performance would indicate it will be doctored before any release into the public domain. The old committee strategy, somewhere along the way it has been about committed, comms and cons, what should be useful tools to aid the project delivery seems to have become the definition of done.
I had my first COVID-19 Vaccine today at my usual GP. No dramas, quite a little production line.
I was asked if I wanted it uploaded to MYHR. I said I didn't (It will get their via the Australian Immunization Register anyway)
Before I even got home I received an email telling me my MYHR had been accessed and a Shared Health Summary had been uploaded.
I've just logged on and had a look. Sure enough I now have a Shared Health Summary. It contains are the immunisations I've had including today's COVID-19 Vaccine.
This is eveything it says:
Adverse Reactions
No Adverse Reactions are supplied
Medications
No Medications are supplied
Medical History
No Procedures are supplied
No Problem Diagnosis are supplied
Immunisations
Immunisations - Administered Immunisations
Vaccine.....................Sequence Number.....Date
COVID.19.Vaccine AstraZeneca....1...............26 May 2021
Zostavax........................1...............25 Jan 2021
Prevenar.13.....................1...............27 Nov 2020
As a SHS that's pretty useless. I don't have many health problems but I have had a hip replacement, I have to watch my iron intake and I have very mild hypertension. No sign of any of that lot.
Apart from the COVID 19 vaccine, the other two are also listed on the Immunisations page which helpfully tells me
"Your immunisation history contains immunisation information from the Australian Immunisation Register as well as from your My Health Record."
In other words, the same data is in two places in my MYHR.
Apart from the Nurse at my GP uploading the details of my COVID 19 vaccination (I've hidden the SHS to see what would happen. Reference to it on the Immunisation page has disappeared. I'll have a word with them next time). MyHR is clogged with data.
Prescription details appear at least (up to?) three times - In the Medicare overview, on the Prescription and Dispense Records page, and in the eHealth Prescription Record when the original script was written
I don't know what happens to MyHR data when it is downloaded to a GP's system or accessed through the provider portal, but it sure isn't patient friendly.
I find your account somewhat confusing. Did you give permission for a SHS to be uploaded to your MyHR?
No. I have never given permission for a SHS to be uploaded.
I went in and had a chat with the practice manager this afternoon to let them know what had happened. She checked their records and there was a form the nurse had filled in which showed I had not given permission for the information to be directly uploaded to MyHR.
Other people dad also had not given permission for the information to be directly uploaded to MyHR so she's going to check if it has happened to them.
It's obviously a human/data entry error. Just as well it's not something important.
Which just goes to prove that the way patient 'choice' has been set up in the MyHR is a complete mockery. It matters not what you want. It's not a clerical error it's an intentionally designed strategy intended to confuse i individuals just like you!
You mean entrap rather than confuse.
Bernard wasn't confused BUT he was trapped!
I would not be surprised if it is a. Automated process - system checks if the government has a record active for you; if so, up goes an SHS, and the practice is one file closer to meeting its payment targets. So is this a qualifier? Or is ADHA looking the other way? Disregarding the consent of the patient in their drive to use numbers as a means of demonstrating value? I found it a little suspicious the way you have to be explicit in not wanting information uploaded rather than requesting it is.
Either way, let’s blame the GP; that is the standard of late.
I disagree, we should not blame the GP. The system, as you describe, is set to confuse and most importantly DECEIVE. The ADHA is to blame.
Every time I have a test I have be alert and remember to 'tick' the 'box' that states "Do not send to My Health Record".
Oh yes, this is deceitful entrapment, nothing less.
People should have the option of being able to 'tick' a 'box' which says "SEND RESULT TO MY HEALTH RECORD".
Whatever you may or may not think of Dominic Cummings, he has a good turn of phrase.
“The problem in this crisis was lions led by donkeys over and over again, with great people on the ground doing things… but the leadership, people like me and the prime minister and [health secretary Matt Hancock], we let down the people on the front line."
Isn't it nice we've inherited the Westminster system, flaws and all?
At least the UK vaccination program is working well. The border controls we have set up to keep COVID 19 out, will end up being our prison walls.
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