I Feel The Australian Medical Association Is Not Doing Australian Digital Health Any Favours By Not Being Explicit.

The AMA has re- released its Vision For Australia’s Health as part of its pre election advocacy.

11 Apr 2022 8:44 am AEST

AMA’s 2022 Federal Election Statement

Australian Medical Association

Australia’s health system is one of the best in the world, however it falls short in several areas including access to care, prevention, and coordination.

The AMA’s 2022 Federal Election Statement outlines areas of the health system in need of reform if Australia is to maintain its standing as a provider of world-class health care. Based on the AMA’s Vision for Australia’s Health, the 2022 Federal Election Statement proposes sensible and targeted initiatives across five pillars – general practice, public hospitals, private health, a health system for all, and a health system for the future.

General practice

International studies prove what general practitioners (GPs) have known for generations – a strong GP-led primary healthcare system keeps people well and saves lives. Despite this, consecutive Commonwealth Governments have failed to provide adequate funding for general practice. This election is an opportunity for both major parties to commit to modernising Medicare through reform and the provision of additional funding that will future proof general practice, keeping people healthier and out of hospital.

Public hospitals

Chronic underfunding at both state/territory and Commonwealth level has led to declining public hospital performance. The AMA is calling for a new funding agreement that funds hospitals to improve performance, expand capacity, and address avoidable admissions. This includes moving to a more equitable 50-50 funding share between the Commonwealth and states and territories, and removing the 6.5 per cent funding cap that constrains the ability of hospitals to meet community demand.

Private health

The unique balance between the public and private sectors makes the Australian health system one of the best in the world. Many Australians however are cancelling their private health insurance policies, and too many of the new members are older and more likely to make substantial claims. The AMA’s 2022 Federal Election Statement outlines several initiatives to improve the value proposition for private health insurance and create a platform for genuine reform of our private healthcare system.

A health system for all

The AMA’s vision is for a sustainable health system, which achieved via policy and funding reform, where prevention is the foundation of healthcare planning and design. This election is an opportunity for both parties to commit to identifying and filling service gaps for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with mental health needs, people living in aged care settings and other vulnerable groups.

A health system for the future

Building a health system for the future will require us to embrace new technology and innovation, consolidate the gains from COVID-19 reforms such as telehealth and e-prescribing, and build upon these gains to facilitate better access for all patients. The AMA’s 2022 Federal Election Statement outlines several initiatives to incorporate data and technology into care delivery, as well as opportunities for Australia to play a global role in the prevention of epidemics, pandemics, and other health threats.

Here is the link:

https://www.miragenews.com/amas-2022-federal-election-statement-762007/

I may have been a bit slow on picking this up that while this release does not mention the #myHR the source report does rather enthusiastically in its 5^th Pillar.

Pillar 5: A Health System for the Future

Embracing new technology and innovation, consolidating the gains from COVID-19 reforms, and building upon them to facilitate better access for all patients and greater understanding and engagement between patients and practitioners. It will also require better use of data and technology to aid diagnosis, clinical audit and patient engagement, and to provide solutions to deliver care in circumstances currently not possible. Key to consideration of a future health system is the opportunities offered by new innovative models of care, integrated care at a lower cost and value-based healthcare – that is, sustainable system redesign.

GOALS	ENABLERS	OUTCOME MEASURES
5.1 Adapt private medical practice to incorporate telehealth and e-prescribing in “business as usual” without detracting from face-to-face medicine.	Telehealth Medicare items that fairly compensate doctors for patient and non-patient contact time, while ensuring appropriate oversight and governance to ensure continuous evaluation and evidence-based quality of care. Doctors are more accessible to patients while reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission – with access to non-GP specialists particularly important for rural and regional patients. Options for telehealth between a GP and a carer or nursing home nurse on behalf of patient, where patients are non-communicative. Ensure appropriate tools are available to assist practitioners in adoption of telehealth and e-prescribing, designed in a way that improves workflow. Remote monitoring technology will facilitate equitable healthcare, in particular for private medical practices in rural and remote areas.	Number of telehealth Medicare items for GP and non-GP specialists. Number of patients choosing telehealth as an option for care. Conversion to 50 per cent e-prescriptions by end of 2022. Government funding for innovations in rural health and technological infrastructure.
5.2 Patients empowered to track their health data and access follow-up care.	Secure, private health information access for doctors and their patients. Seamless access to medicines through e-prescribing. Widespread use and adoption of the My Health Record, with a specific focus on supporting non-GP specialists.	Increased uptake of the My Health Record by specialists. Increased patient satisfaction in practice-based questionnaires. Expanded upload into My Health Record.
5.3 Implement ehealth solutions to deliver doctors and patients health information seamlessly across different parts of the health system.	Each person involved in care has current information about the patient that they need for the best possible quality care. Development of a standard of interoperability across the health system. Patients are supported with education for, and access to, digital health and assistive technologies to receive high-quality care at home and maintain independence. Decision-making and health literacy are improved. A national focussed attempt to improve digital maturity through workforce training initiatives, eliminating fax use, promoting secure messaging uptake, etc. via directed improvement payments or grants.	Communication and coordination improved. Improved access by hospitals to GP notes. Increase in patients receiving high-quality, appropriate care at home instead of in acute care settings. Health literacy indicators improved. Measurable improvement in use of secure messaging and reduction in use of fax.
5.4 Liaison with colleges and universities to incorporate management and leadership training as well as ehealth training as a routine part of their education requirements for students and registrars.	Incorporation of leadership and ehealth units of study with assessment in training programs. Expanded capacity for remote learning (training and educational opportunities, especially for trainees in regional/rural sites, and potential remote supervision).	Australian Medical Council accreditation guidelines adjusted to reflect this need, with 100 per cent conversion within 3 years.

 

Here is the link to the overall document.

https://www.ama.com.au/vision-for-australias-health

It is interesting that the enthusiasm for e-Scripts and Telehealth is included in the new release from a week ago but there is no mention of the specialist uses of the #myHR.

I have no idea why he change but is looks pretty deliberate and leads one to wonder did the AMA membership feel the #myHR was a bit of a lost cause.

Time will tell as in the last few years the AMA has seemed to be a bit guarded in #myHR promotion, suggesting it is not much loved out in ‘doctor land’. The AMA would be better of to form up its view and support the newer initiatives while suggesting the #myHR needs to either be scrubbed or radically changed to make is acceptable / useful.

David.