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 busy week with lots going on both in private and public sector.
Still wondering what we will see from the new Federal Government!
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Aged Care Technology Consortium launched for coordinated senior care
The consortium aims to assist in the digital transformation of the aged care sector by integrating their systems.
By Adam Ang
June 09, 2022 03:17 AM
Several health technology companies in Australia have banded together to integrate their systems to demonstrate coordinated care in residential aged care facilities and home care settings.
The Aged Care Technology Consortium brought together six founding members: Webstercare, Extensia, Foxo, Visionflex, MEDrefer and Humanetix.
These companies are providers of technologies for communications, workflow and administration, telehealth and remote monitoring, referrals, medication management, and health information sharing. They have also demonstrated interoperability with existing IT infrastructures of aged care providers.
WHY IT MATTERS
Their collaboration offers a solution to the Australian aged care sector's disjointed systems marked by the lack of information sharing between facilities and even within organisations themselves.
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My Health Record: after 12 years and more than $2bn, hardly anyone is using digital service
Research shows many Australians find medical records not uploaded and clinicians fail to see benefits of using the national online database
Melissa Davey Medical editor
Mon 6 Jun 2022 03.30 AEST Last modified on Mon 6 Jun 2022 03.31 AEST
Twelve years after the introduction of My Health Record, Australians are struggling to access their medical information, while clinicians report frustrating difficulties uploading and finding vital health details such as pathology results and diagnostic tests.
The latest annual report from the Australian Digital Health Agency shows just 2.69 million of the 23 million people registered for a My Health Record accessed it in 2020-21. While this is an increase of 14% from the previous year, it was largely driven by people accessing Covid-19 vaccination records and Covid-19 test results.
The chief executive of the Consumers Health Forum (CHF), Leanne Wells, said while upgrades to My Health Record to include access to vaccination information and Advanced Care Plans were welcome, day-to-day health records from consultations, emergency department visits, hospital discharges, pathology, and diagnostic testing were still missing from many records. This is despite more than $2bn being spent on the system since it launched in 2012.
“These items represent the vital health information that should be shared between health service providers, however, consumers report that their expectations are not met when these are not visible, or are only visible on supply from some, but not all, providers,” Wells said.
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https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2022/06/mygov-audit/
Oh Thank God, Labor Is Actually Going to Audit myGov
Asha Barbaschow
Published 3 hours ago: June 6, 2022 at 8:44 am -
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new ministry is moving ahead with at least one pre-election promise. His party is going to conduct an audit of the Australian government’s online portal, myGov.
Prior to the election, Labor said if it were successful, myGov would undergo an audit. The user audit, Albanese said previously, would take a “fresh look at how well myGov is performing when it comes to reliability and functionality for a user-friendly experience”.
At the time, Labor said there had just been “too many crashes and outages”, pointing to that time former Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert thought myGov had been DDoS’d. (There was just a lot of people checking to see if they qualified for COVID relief, btw.)
But as per a report from The Sydney Morning Herald, the audit is actually going ahead. The new minister who has absorbed the issue-plagued myGov, Bill Shorten, said he wants to turn using myGov from an often-frustrating experience into a seamless one. Amen.
In case you’re unfamiliar, myGov was meant to be an easy, and secure, way to access services online with one login and one password.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/medicares-existing-relationship-telehealth-rules-tweaked-again
Medicare's 'existing relationship' telehealth rules tweaked again
Patients affected by natural disasters are exempt, says the Federal Department of Health
6th June 2022
Patients affected by floods or bushfires will be exempt from Medicare’s existing relationship rules for telehealth, as long an ‘emergency declaration’ has been issued, federal health officials say.
Under the current rules, patients can only claim rebates for telehealth care if they have seen the GP, or another GP at the same practice, within the last 12 months.
Earlier this year, the Federal Department of Health introduced temporary exemptions for patients caught in the NSW and Queensland floods.
However, updated guidelines published in June, say an emergency declaration from state and territory governments for any natural disaster will trigger the exemption for patients in the affected local government areas.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/southern-dhb-sets-population-health-data-portal
Southern DHB sets up population health data portal
Its creation marks the second phase of the DHB's public health needs assessment.
By Adam Ang
June 09, 2022 03:20 AM
The Southern District Health Board has launched a new web portal for accessing population health data related to the southern communities of New Zealand's South Island.
The website, called Tō Tātou Pūkete, hosts a database of public health information categorised into four key areas – demography, health drivers, health status and health services, with each indicator accompanied by a set of visual graphics and written descriptions.
The DHB has roped in various stakeholders – including the University of Otago, WellSouth Primary Health Network, Māori Health Directorate, Rūnaka, and the Community Health Council – to develop the online portal.
WHY IT MATTERS
The website was developed primarily to provide the public, clinicians, and researchers access to population health information, moving away from traditional means of publishing public health data.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/health-staff-urged-clean-phones-well-hands
Health staff urged to clean phones as well as hands
Study on ICU nurses' mobile phones shows a disinfection protocol significantly reduce contamination and therefore the risk of infection transmission
3rd June 2022
Healthcare professionals should start regularly disinfecting their mobile phones, as well as their hands, to reduce the risk of infection transmission, US researchers say.
The team posed the question why, if mobile phones have become an extension of our hands, don't we disinfect them more often, especially in healthcare settings?
Their study of ICU nurses found that after they began regularly cleaning their mobiles, the bioburden on both their own and shared phones dropped significantly,
This in turn would cut the risk of infection disease transmission, the researchers surmise in the American Journal of Infection Control.
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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/607988/Southern-Cross-pilots-digital-admissions.htm
Southern Cross pilots digital admissions
Wednesday, 8 June 2022
NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth
Southern Cross Healthcare has
developed and piloted a surgical digital admissions solution and is looking at
wider roll-out across its hospitals.
Chief digital officer Trevor Delany says the digital solution replaces a
13-page paper pack of forms that patients had to fill-out for clinicians to
assess before surgery.
The forms are critical to inform the organisation about the patient and their
health status, what medicines they are currently taking and their agreement to
treatment.
Previously this paper pack was scanned and emailed in, posted or dropped off by
hand, or not received at all until the day of the scheduled surgery. Delany
says some patients even got inventive and sent a video of them slowly turning
the pages from their mobile phone.
The digital solution was designed and built with Orion Health, which provides
the Clinical Workstation for Southern Cross hospitals.
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https://digitalhealth.org.au/blog/keep-up-with-digital-health-in-wa/
Keep up with digital health in WA
Jun 6, 2022 | AIDH WA, Conferences, Digital Health, Events, HITWA, State branch
The Digital Health Institute Summit series will be in Perth on Friday 5 August, 2022. Early bird rates end on Friday 10 June and group booking discounts are offered for three or more delegates from the same organisation.
Conference Chair Giles Nunis says the WA branch organising committee has developed an outstanding program suited to the needs of healthcare professionals today.
“Health professionals in Western Australia are on the verge of a decade-long transformational journey,” Giles said.
“The government is continuing to progress the state’s digital health agenda, with funding allocated in the budget for the expansion of digital medical records, real-time data sharing, remote care and broader ICT infrastructure.”
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New digital health hub to drive innovation
Tuesday, 07 June, 2022
RMIT University, along with industry partners, has launched a new hub to drive digital health innovation to support healthcare transformation and citizen health in Australia and internationally.
Kerryn Butler-Henderson, Director, RMIT Digital Health Hub, said, “The COVID pandemic has resulted in a rapid acceleration of innovations in the health sector, but it is just the beginning. It takes a multi-sectorial approach to co-designing solutions to today’s health and care problems and the Digital Health Hub will play a key role in the development, testing and implementation of new innovations to support citizen health and wellness goals in the home and the community.”
“As a university of technology and enterprise, our industry partnerships will be critical to driving meaningful transformation in digital health innovation through research, training, internship and workforce development,” said Butler-Henderson, who is also Chair of the Global Digital Health Specialist Workforce Census.
Helping to promote a digitally capable healthcare workforce is a key focus of the Hub, she said.
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06 Jun 2022 9:00 AM AEST
New hub at RMIT to drive global digital health innovation
A new hub at RMIT University designed to drive digital health innovation to support healthcare transformation and citizen health in Australia and across the globe was officially launched in Melbourne on Wednesday, June 1.
The launch of the RMIT Digital Health Hub, which will work closely with industry to solve unmet industry needs, from virtual care and artificial intelligence to diagnostic and monitoring wearables and sensors, was announced at the Digital Health Festival - Australia’s largest festival on the future of healthcare.
The Hub’s director Kerryn Butler-Henderson said the aim of the RMIT Digital Health Hub is to connect industry with the advanced digital health research and expertise from across RMIT to transform healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes across the lifespan of citizens.
“The COVID pandemic has resulted in a rapid acceleration of innovations in the health sector, but it is just the beginning. It takes a multi-sectorial approach to co-designing solutions to today’s health and care problems and the Digital Health Hub will play a key role in the development, testing, and implementation of new innovations to support citizen health and wellness goals in the home and the community,” she said.
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Improving data quality Webinar with the Australian Government Australian Digital Health Agency
Date: 09-06-2022 10:00:00
When Thursday, 9 June 2022 10:00AM - 10:30AM AEST
Where Online Webinar
This session will help you understand the importance of high-quality patient clinical records and provide practical examples of how to improve your practice’s data quality through a Quality Improvement activity.
This session will help guide practice managers and clinical staff in understanding:
- Clinical risks of poor data;
- The importance of coding clinical information to ensure quality diagnosis and medical history data;
- Importance of quality prescription and medicines data; and
- The benefits of up-to-date and accurate data
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https://www.seek.com.au/job/57247866?type=standout
Various Positions in Data Governance
DFP Recruitment
Brisbane CBD & Inner Suburbs
Government & Defence
Government - Federal
Full time 6 June 2022
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 Roles
Various positions are available in Digital Policy, Programs, and Engagement
Division in Data Strategy and Governance:
EL1 Senior Data Policy lead
The Senior Data Policy Lead will provide leadership on data policy and management issues in order to advance the Agency’s data maturity and data strategy and deliver Agency implementation of the Framework to guide the use of My Health Record data for research or public health purposes. The Senior Data Policy Lead is accountable for:
- Providing expert advice on policy, complex problem solving and issues management for internal and external stakeholders.
- Working closely with other Agency staff to develop and implement all appropriate and necessary data requirements (including governance and management) to ensure My Health Record data use for research and public health purposes.
- Attaining and maintaining an extensive understanding of the role and responsibilities of the Agency, including an understanding of the APS operating environment more broadly.
- Communicating and making decisions that are based on professional judgement to develop, implement and evaluate data strategies to realise the value of the Agency’s data assets including promoting updates for governance, management, terminology and research and public health use of data evaluating risks and in the context of a complex and changing environment.
- Support the development of the end to end scheme to ensure efficient, appropriate use and secure provision of data, including My Health Record data for research and public health purposes and alignment with the national modernisation infrastructure program and Agency’s other business areas.
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https://www.seek.com.au/job/57314363?type=promoted
Digital Health Senior Manager
Medical Technology Association of Australia
Sydney Ryde & Macquarie Park
Healthcare & Medical
Management Full time
Posted 10 June, 2022
About MTAA
The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) is the national association representing companies in the medical technology industry. MTAA aims to ensure the benefits of modern, innovative and reliable medical technology are delivered effectively to provide better health outcomes to the Australian community.
MTAA members distribute the majority of the non-pharmaceutical products used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and disability in Australia. Our member companies also play a vital role in providing healthcare professionals with essential education and training to ensure safe and effective use of medical technology.
Job Purpose
MTAA is committing to being the leader in Digital Health policy and advocacy from a MedTech perspective. This is a very exciting opportunity for the right person to manage and grow that leadership role in the Australian environment for the benefit of patients and the industry.
The Senior Manager Digital Health will be responsible for driving advocacy for Digital Health on behalf of MTAA members and providing support for MTAA Digital Health initiatives. This includes support for the MTAA Connected Health Care Advisory Group (CHAG) in developing and advocating for policy positions related to Digital Health. Through these activities, the Senior Manager Digital Health demonstrate MTAA’s and the CHAG’s leadership in Digital Health as a representative of MedTech companies bringing products to the Australian market and exporting overseas.
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My Health Record Software Vendor Welcome Pack - Software Vendor Support Contacts v20220216
A list of support contacts, listing the appropriate support channel by scenario.
Identifier: DH-3617:2022
Date: 16-02-2022
Size: 563.60 KB
Type: application/pdf
SHA256 Checksum:
501f734a254861c0b1c1037c80ddc72b4085771540e19522ff943cd982bb64ef
Hide Also belongs to these file packages
My Health Record Software Vendor Welcome Pack v20220216
My Health Record Software Vendor Welcome Pack - Software Vendor Support Contacts v20200311
Published: 11-03-2020
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https://nwmphn.org.au/for-primary-care/digital-health/epathology/
ePathology
ePathology is the term for safe and secure exchange between the information systems of a primary health care professional and a pathology laboratory.
It is also known as eOrders or eRequests.
In the Australian primary care setting, ePathology orders to Medicare pathology providers still require an accompanying digital or hard-copy form. Despite this constraint, the system has significant benefits.
Benefits
Using ePathology reduces the risk of errors arising from handwritten requests. It increases the amount of useful clinical information and patient history available to aid pathologist diagnoses.
ePathology can save significant time and frustration for primary care practices. It can speed up processing time for pathology requests and reduce the need for follow-ups due to missing or incorrect data. It may also reduce the need for calls between patients and GPs in search their results, and help avoid duplication of tests by different providers.
GPs can provide smoother consultations because pathology orders can be automatically shared with patients and providers and tracked in real time.
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https://www.youtube.com/c/AuDigitalHealth/featured?app=desktop
AuDigitalHealth
https://www.4eb.org.au/news/tag/my-health-record/
My Health Record
Australian health services shifting to digital platforms
News
The use of technology in government services has increased, and now Australians can obtain their health records online.It’s critical Australians...
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https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/pandemic-prompts-massive-spike-in-my-health-record
Pandemic prompts massive spike in My Health Record use
Immunisation details and PCR results have raised the database’s profile, but queries remain about its reliability and usage among general practices.
08 Jun 2022
The pandemic has had many unforeseen consequences – and one
of them seems to be a surge in the use of My Health Record, the digital
database intended as a ‘single source of truth’ for patients and health
professionals.
Figures published by the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA), which
oversees My Health Record, show
an exponential increase in visits to the website in the past year.
The ADHA reports a figure of 1.57 million for April last year, which rose to a
high of 13.75 million in January. While the most recent statistics have fallen
from that peak – in April 2022, they stood at 4.83 million – they still reflect
a tripling in use from 12 months previously.
According to the organisation, those statistics 'are at a total viewing
level' so could include one person viewing several documents. It also
clarified that they are views by consumers, not healthcare providers (see
update below).
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NBN Co staff receive hefty pay bumps as bonuses scrapped
By Zoe Samios and Lisa Visentin
June 10, 2022 — 5.00am
The government-owned company building the national broadband network has scrapped performance bonuses for thousands of staff following a public backlash, but will instead increase fixed pay for its employees in a move that will add millions of dollars to its permanent wage bill.
NBN Co confirmed it has scrapped bonuses for most employees, excluding its most senior executives, after a review found that most positions at government business enterprises “should not be eligible to earn a performance bonus”. The change took effect in November but will be reviewed by the Albanese government. It comes after The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed NBN Co in 2020 spent more than $37 million on bonuses for nearly 3000 staff earning up to $200,000 a year.
Multiple sources familiar with the change, who were not authorised to speak publicly, said the National Broadband Network was giving about 80 per cent of the maximum “at risk” remuneration to employees in fixed financial packages. Such a move is likely to raise questions about the legitimacy of the bonus framework and the way targets were previously set.
Under the previous program, staff could receive 135 per cent of their target short-term incentive (STI), which was judged against five corporate measures.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/cba-offers-nbn-discount-to-mortgage-customers-580926
CBA offers NBN discount to mortgage customers
By Richard Chirgwin on Jun 6, 2022 11:09AM
Investment in More bearing fruit.
Nearly a year after it took a 25 percent stake in broadband retailer More, the Commonwealth Bank is using NBN services as a sweetener to lure customers.
CBA will offer pre-approved home loan customers three years of free NBN services, which it said in a statement could save eligible customers more than $2700.
Existing customers are offered 30 percent off More NBN plans for a year, if they sign up using debit or credit cards to pay.
CBA says its research showed one-third of customers expecting interest rate rises will be on the lookout for cheap utility and service offers to offset higher mortgage payments.
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Saturday, 04 June 2022 15:27
NBN delivers access to Ultrafast internet to a further 160,000 homes and businesses
NBN Co is inviting customers living and working in around 160,000 premises currently served by Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia to upgrade to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP).
This is the first in a series of tranches that will extend eligibility to approximately 115,000 additional premises per month in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia, to make almost one million premises currently served by FTTC able to access nbn Home Ultrafast by the end of this year. By the end of next year, approximately 1.5 million customers currently able to access the nbn network via FTTC will be able to upgrade to FTTP and enjoy access to the highest speeds available on the network.
To find out if their premises may be eligible to upgrade from FTTC to FTTP, customers are invited to register for updates at nbn.com.au/fttpupgrade. The website includes links to participating retailers.
Once customers order an nbn Home Superfast or nbn Home Ultrafast speed tier-based plan from a participating retailer, NBN Co will design and construct the fibre lead-ins to the premises at no up-front cost to the retailer. Most premises currently served by FTTC can already attain wholesale download speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
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‘New era’ as NASA launches rockets from Northern Territory
11:26AM June 8, 2022
NASA will launch rockets from Australia for the first time since the 90s in an effort to “take Australia’s space sector into a new era”.
Anthony Albanese announced the milestone agreement with the US space agency, which would see three scientific rockets launched between June 26 and July 12 from The Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory.
“We can trace Australia’s celebrated connection to the space industry back to the 1950s,” the Prime Minister said.
“As a nation we have to build on that legacy.”
NASA rockets were last launched in Australia in 1995 from the Royal Australian Air Force Woomera Range Complex.
However, this month’s launch will be the first time NASA has launched rockets from a commercial facility outside of the US.
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Enjoy!
David.
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