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 quiet week with no indication of what the new Government plans for digital health!
Have you noticed that as of today there has not been a media release from the ADHA since March 30? Have they died and gone to Heaven?
We really do have some bizarre webinars from them!
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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/department-gets-its-own-telehealth-audit/71676
23 June 2022
Department gets its own telehealth audit
By Holly Payne
The government’s handling of remote consultations during the pandemic is going under the microscope.
The Department of Health, customarily the body which conducts audits in the healthcare world, is getting a performance audit of its own this year.
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) is taking a look at how the DoH planned and implemented telehealth MBS items over the past three years.
While the ANAO doesn’t comment on the merits of government policy, it will be assessing the planning and policy advice which led to the arrangement, how sound the implementation plan was and whether telehealth has led to its intended improvements.
The final report isn’t expected to be tabled until December this year, when the telehealth landscape could potentially be quite different.
From 1 July, just a week from now, Level C phone consults in metro and regional areas are set to be phased out of the MBS if the government doesn’t step in at the last minute to delay the change – something it has repeatedly done in the past.
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Australians should not be misled’: Health Minister lashes cosmetic cowboys
June 20, 2022 — 5.00am
The health minister has declared the country deserves better than being misled by cosmetic surgeons, some of whom have left patients disfigured, as the states and territories consider unwinding a ban on testimonials in the industry.
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed last week how some cosmetic surgeons had built huge followings on social media, spruiking their patients’ new breasts, buttocks and muscled physiques to a generation inundated with images of surgically enhanced ideals of beauty online.
But some cosmetic surgeons failed to live up to their glitzy advertising, using heavy-handed legal tactics to avoid negative reviews online from patients dissatisfied or in pain.
“Australians were rightly shocked by the devastating revelations uncovered by the 60 Minutes and Nine Newspapers joint investigation into cowboy cosmetic surgeons,” Health Minister Mark Butler said in a statement. “Australians seeking these treatments should not be misled by medical practitioners, non-specialist surgeons or those without appropriate surgical training.”
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/govt-faces-backlash-doctors-medicare-telehealth-cuts-loom
Govt faces backlash from doctors as Medicare telehealth cuts loom
Funding for longer phone consults ends next week but many GPs believe video consults have little additional benefit
22nd June 2022
Medicare items for longer telephone consults, which will be scrapped next week, need to be retained because of the ongoing risk of COVID-19 transmission in GP practices, the RACGP says.
The $75.75 MBS item for telephone consults lasting longer than 20 minutes will vanish next Friday despite being claimed almost 100,000 times in April.
At the same time, the Federal Government is bringing in a new 30/20 rule, with any GP claiming 30 telephone items a day on more than 20 days in a 12-month period being automatically referred to the PSR for investigation.
On Monday, one GP warned the measures were a Medicare version of 'bad faith' private health insurance, with rules and bureaucratic complexity used deliberately to prevent patients accessing care.
The RACGP is now urging the new Minister for Health Mark Butler to rethink the changes.
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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/technology/news/deflecting-the-data-breach-1553761075
Deflecting the data breach
Monday, 20 June, 2022
Cyber breaches in Australia’s healthcare industry are rising fast compared to other sectors. Yet, this increasingly vulnerable sector stands apart given the dangers such attacks can pose to human life.
Cybercriminals are attracted by healthcare’s large attack surface, one filled with sharing vast amounts of sensitive, time-critical information over largely aging systems that aren't cohesive . But despite this worrying rise in attacks and the ramifications, healthcare sector managers continue to resist new government measures requiring mandatory risk management programs and reporting.
Cost, of course, is the primary argument agencies are using against the new regulations. Yet this argument needs to be reframed through the lens of much larger financial losses suffered because of a cyber attack. For the truth is, costs of mitigation strategies are relatively minor when compared to the multimillion-dollar financial outlays generally involved with detecting, dealing with and then rectifying a cyber breach in its entirety.
Spiralling costs
There is no denying cyber attacks in healthcare are on the rise. During the 2020 calendar year, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) received 166 health sector-related cybersecurity incident reports — almost twice the 90 reported incidents received the previous calendar year.1 This marked rise prompted the ACSC to embark on an awareness-raising campaign for healthcare industry executives and cybersecurity professionals around what they could do to protect their organisations, no matter how large or small, from cyberthreats.
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Latest govt crackdown on GP phone consults a 'cheap cost-cutting tactic'
From next month, GPs will be referred to the PSR if they breach the government's new 30/20 rule
20th June 2022
By Paul Smith
A new compliance regime where GPs claiming high numbers of Medicare-funded phone consults will be referred to the Professional Services Review has been dubbed a government cost-cutting tactic.
From 1 July, GPs will be subject to a new 30/20 rule that means claiming 30 phone consults on 20 or more days in a 12-month period will trigger a referral to the Medicare watchdog for investigation.
The system was meant to be in place back in January but was put on ice as COVID-19 cases numbers surged.
It is unclear how many doctors will be affected by the change.
The federal Department of Health says it is unable to provide figures on how many GPs are currently claiming beyond the 30/20 threshold.
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Future of telehealth uncertain as doctors call for Medicare rebates to be locked in
By Dana Daniel
June 21, 2022 — 10.34pm
Doctors say vulnerable patients are at risk of missing out on medical care this winter unless the federal government halts plans to scale back Medicare rebates for telehealth, and are calling for more flexibility for patients.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the Albanese government was seeking advice about “options to extend” rebates for longer phone consultations, which are due to expire on June 30 under a policy of the former Morrison government.
Dozens of telehealth rebates are due to be abolished on July 1, including phone consultations of more than 20 minutes with a GP, initial consultations with a specialist and some disability and mental health services.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Adjunct Professor Karen Price called on government to make longer telephone consultations with GPs “a permanent fixture of telehealth” to ensure that patients with complex needs can access the care they need.
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https://www.miragenews.com/racgp-urges-action-on-telehealth-804974/
RACGP urges action on telehealth
Royal Australian College of GPs
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has urged the federal Government to address some of the issues which have surfaced since the rollout and expansion of telehealth services in Australia.
It comes via the RACGP’s submission to the Australian National Audit Office’s (ANAO) audit of the expansion of telehealth services.
RACGP President Adj. Professor Karen Price said that telehealth is beneficial to many patients but that several issues need to be urgently addressed.
“The swift introduction of patient rebates for Medicare Benefits Schedule telehealth services in general practice was welcome and long overdue,” she said.
“GPs and patients across Australia embraced telehealth when the new patient rebates were first introduced in March 2020 and for good reason – it’s a popular form of service delivery that helps many patients access the care they need from their usual GP, when they need it.
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https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/ama-calls-for-gp-telehealth-funding-extension/
AMA calls for GP telehealth funding extension
Health
23 Jun 2022 1:21 pm AEST
Australian Medical Association
The AMA is calling the federal government to extend patient access to Medicare funded COVID-19 telehealth services beyond June 30.
Under a decision taken by the former Government, from 1 July access to both GP and non-GP specialist telehealth services will be cut back, particularly telephone consultations.
AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said patients cannot afford to lose access to COVID-19 telehealth as it will make access to medical care more difficult, particularly for vulnerable populations and those who might not have the access or skills to use other IT platforms.
“Telehealth has been embraced by doctors and patients alike. Proceeding with the July changes will put more people at risk of contracting the virus and make it more difficult for patients to access the care they need.”
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Monday, 20 June 2022 11:04
LAUNCH EVENT VIDEO: Cybermindz.org: Australia’s first peer-led, cybersecurity mental health support program
Cybermindz.org launches the world’s first peer-led, cybersecurity mental health support program. This important initiative was launched by NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Victor Dominello, and the launch was followed by a panel event of leading industry experts, as you can see in the on-demand stream of the Thursday 16 June launch event, details below.
An idea whose time has come, Cybermindz.org provides scalable, effective and evidence-based mental health support and on-the-ground resilience building to cyber teams and those in related roles.
Founded by cyber and internet industry leader Peter Coroneos, and supported by a first-rate board and drawing from a national pool of over 400 accredited facilitators, Coroneos has launched a powerful, innovative, dedicated not-for-profit mental health initiative for the cyber sector and beyond: Cybermindz.org.
Rationale
Organisations today depend on cybersecurity teams, both internal and external, to protect their customers and themselves from an ever-growing barrage of cyber threats across increasingly anything that is, or can be turned into, an attack surface.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nsw-digital-restart-fund-releases-another-127m-for-projects-581614
NSW digital restart fund releases another $127m for projects
By Justin Hendry on Jun 21, 2022 1:18PM
Budget 2022: But no additional new funding.
The NSW government will release another $126.7 million from its $2.1 billion digital restart fund (DRF) over the next three years, the 2022 state budget reveals.
But budget documents show no additional investment in the fund for the first time since it was created in 2019, having been boosted by $500 million last year and $1.6 billion in 2020.
New allocations from the fund since the half-yearly review in December include $38.8 million over two years for the e-Regulation platform, which will deliver a “single case management system for regulators and businesses in NSW”.
The government will spend $33.1 million uplifting the “security of operating systems and applications”, including at the NSW Electoral Commission, to allow “agencies to manage cyber threats more proactively”.
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Queensland gov sinks another $300m into e-health record system rollout
By Justin Hendry on Jun 21, 2022 6:15PM
Budget also sets aside funding for digital courts, tribunals.
The Queensland government will provide another $300 million over the next five years for the continued rollout of integrated electronic medical record (ieMR) functionality.
Budget papers released on Tuesday reveal $240 million for the ‘digital hospital electronic medical record system’ over the forward estimates, with a further $60 million to be provided in 2026-27.
Queensland Health first received funding of $412 million for the ieMR in 2011, but by 2016 it was estimated the project would cost $1.2 billion to complete.
In December 2018, a damning audit revealed another $250 million would be needed to complete the ieMR, pushing the project more than 40 percent over budget.
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Peter Mac, Swinburne lead DHCRC project developing AI platform for patients with genetic disorders
It will be built with algorithms to identify patients at risk of medication non-adherence.
By Adam Ang
June 21, 2022
Melbournian institutions Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Swinburne University of Technology are leading a Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre project which will develop an AI-powered virtual platform for patients with genetic disorders.
According to a media release, the cloud-based platform known as GENIE will initially provide patients dealing with familial cancers and cardiac conditions with guidance on how to find specialist care, support for clinical and psychological issues, and updates on clinical trials.
Over the next two years, the partners will develop algorithms that will enable the platform to help genetic counsellors identify specific sub-group of patients at key life stages, or who are at risk of non-adherence to management recommendations. A stakeholder group will be organised to prioritise the features that will be incorporated in the development of the algorithms.
Additionally, clinical data to be collected from GENIE will be seamlessly integrated into a specialist Clinical Genetic Service (CGS) familial database.
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Call to work on the ‘frontline of digital transformation’ – Margie Apa
Tuesday, 21 June 2022
NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth
Chief executive of Interim Health NZ Margie Apa is calling
on the data and digital workforce to join Health NZ and work in the health
sector, “on the frontline of digital transformation”.
In a video
address to ‘our data & digital whānau’, Apa says: “transformation is an
exciting place to be, and we are committed to retaining and attracting great
people within the health system to deliver the changes we need to make and
improve people’s lives”.
She says the data and digital workforce is an important part of connecting up
New Zealand’s system.
“We have a great opportunity ahead of us, potentially the opportunity of a
lifetime… to build a national unified health system,” says Apa.
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Orion Health reports growth – implements first Digital Front Door
Monday, 20 June 2022
NEWS
It has also gone live with the first implementation of its
Digital Front Door technology in a Canadian province.
A statement from Orion Health says more than 80 percent of revenue came from
offshore over the past financial year, with significant multi-year wins in
Saudi Arabia and Canada.
Chris Hobson, global chief medical officer, told eHealthNews the Canadian
project is the first implementation of Orion’s Digital Front Door.
The new service went live on March 31, 2022 and provides everyone in the
province with patient centric access to their electronic health record, as well
as an afterhours triage call or online chat service. Integrations with large
EHR providers allows a transcript of the discussion to be sent to the doctor or
health service they are referred to.
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MedAdvisor : MDR announces executive changes, appoints US-based CEO & MD
06/19/2022 | 06:44pm EDT
MedAdvisor Limited
ACN 145 327 617
Level 2, 971 Burke Road Camberwell Vic 3124
ASX RELEASE (ASX: MDR)
For personal use only
MedAdvisor announces executive changes;
US-based CEO and Managing Director appointed
- Rick Ratliff
appointed MedAdvisor's new US-based CEO and Managing Director
o Rick has significant experience in health and pharmacy software in the US and
Australia, and is well placed to support MedAdvisor's US growth opportunities - Current Managing Director & CEO Robert Read to remain Executive Director for transition period
- Simon Glover has resigned as CFO to pursue other career opportunities
- GM Finance Annabelle Grant appointed Interim-CFO, as an executive search is conducted to appoint an Australian-based CFO
Melbourne, Australia, 20 June 2022 - Medtech company, MedAdvisor Limited (MedAdvisor or the Company) today announced two executive changes, including the appointment of US- based Rick Ratliff to the position of CEO and Managing Director, effective 18 July 2022.
Rick Ratliff appointed CEO and Managing Director
With over 30 years' experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical technology sector, Rick has a significant and successful track record of growth in both the US and Australia, and is a hands-on leader and collaborator. He has direct experience in the markets and segments in which MedAdvisor is operating.
As President of Network Services at ConnectiveRx, Rick led a team that developed go-to- market strategies and new products that increased platform revenue by 50% to US$120 million and also increased margins by over 50% over a three-year period. Prior to that, as President and Chief Commercial Officer, Rick designed ConnectiveRx's new sales organisation; integrated systems, cultures and teams; rationalised products across acquisitions; and aligned key services, data and analytics, to support accelerated growth.
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https://allevents.in/online/carers-victoria-my-health-record-carers-webinar-8940/10000344007594977
Carers Victoria My Health Record Carers Webinar #8940
Fri Jun 24, 2022
Date & Time
Fri Jun 24 2022 at 10:30 am to 11:30 am
(Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Add to Calendar
Location Online
Carers Victoria My Health Record Carers Webinar #8940
Carers talk about My Health Record and how they use it in
their caring role…
About this Event
Come and speak with three experienced carers at the My Health Record Carers Webinar, hosted by Carers Victoria in partnership with Australian Digital Health Agency.
Listen to carers talk about how they use My Health Record to support their role as a carer. Ask questions, hear their opinions and share your own experiences about managing health information in your role as a carer.
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https://www.seek.com.au/job/57414669?type=standard
APS6 Digital Health Educator
DFP Recruitment
Brisbane CBD & Inner Suburbs
Government & Defence Government - Federal
$55 - $60 per hour
Contract/Temp
Posted 19 June,2022
Our client, a Federal Government Agency, is responsible for
national digital health services and systems, with a focus on engagement,
innovation, clinical quality, and safety. This department is tasked with
getting data and technology to work for patients, consumers and the health-care
professionals who look after them.
About the role
Our client is seeking an APS6 Digital Health Educator to
be accountable under limited direction to perform work that is complex or
sensitive, working with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Skills and Experience
- Understanding of aboriginal medical service, their workflows and potential challenges in day to day practice
- Knowledge of Electronic Prescribing, My Health Record and Securing Messaging or demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire this knowledge
- Previous experience in working with health clinicians and understanding of use of clinical information systems
- Previous experience in delivering change management within the health sector
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https://itwire.com/your-it-news/home-it/watch-your-health-with-the-new-huawei-fitness-range.html
Monday, 20 June 2022 23:59
Watch your health with the new Huawei fitness range
Huawei has launched new wearables to help Australians kickstart their health journey with a vast range of features from blood pressure monitoring to a built-in animated fitness coach.
Huawei research identifies Australians’ behaviours towards their health have shifted with 4 in 10 people saying they are prioritising their health now more than they did before COVID-19. In response to this improved health trend, Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) has announced its newest wearables to its globally renowned portfolio offering a seamless combination of sleek designs and health-tracking benefits, which are available now Australia-wide.
Recent statistics show nearly three-quarters (72.8%) of people over 15 years old do not meet the Australian Government’s physical activity guidelines, and nearly half of employed people aged 18 to 64 years described their workday as mostly sedentary.
With winter and the end of the financial year season upon us, now is the perfect time to kickstart the health journey with Huawei’s newest wearables that are made with the best in cutting edge technology boasting a range of features; from blood pressure monitoring to a built-in animated fitness coach, there’s a watch waiting to meet any wrist.
Whether it is for an always-on-the-go, corporate powerhouse or a stylish student; keeping on top of health goals is important, and these smart watches can help consumers to do that.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-taking-orders-for-non-premises-connections-581699
NBN Co taking orders for 'non-premises' connections
By Richard Chirgwin on Jun 22, 2022 1:08PM
New developments get IoT connectivity service.
Nearly six years after first discussing expanding its remit beyond premises connections, NBN Co has announced it’s taking orders for what it calls Smart Places connections.
The network operator has long harboured a wish to be an IoT player. Back in 2016, principal technology officer FTTx, Daniel Willis, told a London conference NBN Co wanted to expand its reach to include connections to non-premises locations.
At the time, Willis cited IoT, traffic lights, and smart control systems as on the organisation’s radar.
That’s soon to become a reality, with NBN Co announcing today that Smart Places, currently piloting in 35 locations Australia-wide, will be available for orders for construction after 1 January 2023.
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NBN Co says TPG tie-up could help Telstra sidestep spectrum limits
By Richard Chirgwin on Jun 20, 2022 12:30PM
Raises competition concerns.
NBN Co has accused Telstra of trying to use its deal with TPG to circumvent limits on spectrum ownership.
The arrangement with TPG, which is under ACCC review, has the potential to double the spectrum available to Telstra in regional locations, giving it the chance to launch more fixed wireless broadband services that would compete with NBN Co.
While NBN Co has no mobile network, it uses 5G spectrum in its fixed wireless broadband network, so it has an interest in how spectrum allocations play out.
In a submission [pdf], NBN Co highlights how it believes approval of the deal might affect its access to spectrum – particularly if TPG only maintains a minimal regional retail footprint.
Under the multi-operator core network (MOCN) proposed by the two carriers in February, they would share 4G and 5G spectrum, which would substantially expand TPG’s reachable footprint.
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Enjoy!
David.
Well, the MyHR statistics for May have been published.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/my-health-record/statistics
In April, the number of people looking at their information was 4.83 million, which was more than July 2021 but less than August 2021.
Now after all that advertising, in May the number was 6.31 million, which is ... wait for it ....
More than July 2021 but less than August 2021
https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/styles/original/public/2022-06/mhr-statistics-may-2022-10.png?itok=vs4mRlIi
The ADHA must be so proud.
January 2022 seems a huge spike, how many are unique visitors - is there a breakdown anywhere? I know I checked Medicare multiple times until I realised they sent an email saying it was published.
ReplyDeleteOn the surface seems a lot logging in each month by consumers!
"January 2022 seems a huge spike, how many are unique visitors - is there a breakdown anywhere?"
ReplyDeleteIt is probably best to assume that the number is the total of visits to patient's records, not unique visitors. It's known as putting lipstick on a pig.