Quote Of The Year

Timeless Quotes - Sadly The Late Paul Shetler - "Its not Your Health Record it's a Government Record Of Your Health Information"

or

H. L. Mencken - "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."

Monday, July 04, 2022

Weekly Australian Health IT Links – 04 July, 2022.

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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An interesting week with lots of material on personal data tracking and its potential use against women seeking healthcare in the USA. Lessons for us here I suspect.

Also telehealth and NBN news etc.

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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jul/02/vulnerable-australians-filled-with-dread-over-telehealth-cuts

Vulnerable Australians ‘filled with dread’ over telehealth cuts

Decision to end a range of services on 30 June will lead to ‘avoidable suffering and distress’, medical practitioners say

Caitlin Cassidy

Sat 2 Jul 2022 06.00 AEST Last modified on Sat 2 Jul 2022 06.01 AEST

Living through Covid-19 with inflammatory arthritis, telehealth has been the only way for Eliza Sorensen to safely access her routine medical appointments.

Sorensen is considered severely immunocompromised due to the medication she takes to control her chronic disease. She also lives with asthma.

Sorensen says the government’s decision not to extend pandemic-related telehealth services will be “devastating” for her and people in similar situations.

“I can’t drive due to the medication I’m on, and without mask mandates being in place it’s incredibly risky for me to leave the house, let alone catch public transport to my appointments,” she said.

“I’ve experienced being kicked out of an Uber for wanting to leave the window down because the driver refused to wear a mask. It’s not without risk or issues.”

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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/govt-confirms-end-rebates-longer-telephone-consults

Govt confirms end of rebates for longer telephone consults

But the Minister for Health has put off plans for a '30/20' compliance regime

1st July 2022

By Antony Scholefield

The new Minister for Health has rejected last-minute appeals to save the MBS item for GPs to do longer telephone consults, instead deferring a new compliance regime that aims to deter abuse of the remaining phone items.

All the main GP groups had called for the $75.75 item for telephone consults lasting 20 minutes or more to be retained, stressing it was needed to ensure those without access to video — elderly and marginalised patients — could still access care in the context of rising COVID-19 cases.

In May, the item was claimed 109,000 times.

Items for longer and extended video consults were only claimed 26,000 times.

The Minister for Health Mark Butler defended his decision on Friday.

"There are very clear cases for a better clinical outcome if you can actually see your doctor over FaceTime or whatever,” he told ABC radio.

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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/telehealth-30-20-rule-kicked-down-the-road-again/72271

1 July 2022

Telehealth 30/20 rule kicked down the road again

MBS Political Telehealth

By Holly Payne

Longer phone consults are dead, but the new compliance rule won’t come into effect for another three months.

Telehealth compliance rules will be delayed again until October, Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed late yesterday, literally hours before they were set to come into effect.

There are two rule changes: the new 30/20 rule will flag doctors who deliver more than 30 phone services per day more than 20 times in one calendar year and the existing 80/20 rule will be expanded to include phone and video telehealth items in its count.

These rules were meant to come in at the beginning of the year but were given a six-month stay of execution to allow doctors to deal with the Omicron wave.  

Announcing the further three-month extension, Mr Butler said the current high level of respiratory viruses in the community were the driving factor.

“Given the level of respiratory illness in the community, more and more people – more and more GPs for that matter – are choosing to have consults conducted virtually, and I don’t want GPs punished for that,” he said.

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/clinical-services/news/medtronic-amra-partner-for-robotic-assisted-surgery-106937359

Medtronic, AMRA partner for robotic-assisted surgery

Medtronic Australasia Pty Ltd


Friday, 24 June, 2022

Medtronic Australasia and Australian Medical Robotics Academy (AMRA) have partnered to provide surgeons with training in robotic-assisted surgery (RAS).

A broad spectrum of training is being offered at AMRA’s facilities in Melbourne to enhance the knowledge and skill set in RAS, ranging from basic skills training to procedural training, and to more advanced and specialised areas in surgery.

Kevin Falzon, senior director for Surgical Robotics at Medtronic Asia Pacific, said, “Through this engagement, we will be collaborating closely with a network of experts that make up the faculty at AMRA, all of whom have significant experience in robotic surgery, training and education and who will be the first to deliver our educational content to trainees in Australia.”

The engagement reflects Medtronic’s continued investment in the robotic surgery space as it aims to train and enhance the skill sets of both the current and next generation of surgeons.

“We want to make RAS more accessible — to more hospitals, and more surgeons, for the benefit of patients,” Falzon added.

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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/asia/himss-case-studies-collection-highlights-apac-firsts

HIMSS case studies collection highlights APAC firsts

This second edition of the quarterly series features five healthcare groups and providers that recently excelled in digital maturity assessments.

By Adam Ang

June 28, 2022 09:42 PM

HIMSS has released its latest case studies collection in Asia-Pacific which puts a spotlight on major digital health milestones in the region. 

The second edition of the quarterly Digital Excellence in Healthcare: APAC Case Studies features five healthcare groups and providers who achieved regional and global firsts in terms of maturity. 

Among them is Samsung Medical Center in South Korea, which became the first health system in the world to attain INFRAM Stage 7. 

New Zealand-based healthcare provider Tū Ora Compass Health was also featured for being the first APAC organisation to be validated for INFRAM Stage 6.

The report also features the Pondok Indah Hospital Group, the first among Indonesian health facilities to achieve EMRAM Stage 6. 

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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/609884/Health-NZ-to-simplify-confused-technology-landscape.htm

Health NZ to simplify ‘confused’ technology landscape

Tuesday, 28 June 2022  

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Health NZ will not be a “passive recipient of vendor solutions” and will be rigorous in defining what it needs in terms of technology, the chair of interim Health NZ says.

Rob Campbell told the MTANZ HealthTech Conference in Auckland on June 28 that New Zealand needs a single public health delivery service working towards a clear set of goals.

Health NZ will focus on equity, efficiency, effectiveness, entrepreneurship, and excellence.

He described the current technology landscape as a “confused tangle of national, district and local service networks and technologies that no one understands”, and said the multiple contracts and arrangements in place need to be simplified and clarified.

“We are not there as a passive recipient of vendor solutions. You can expect us to be much more rigorous in defining what we need,” he told the audience.
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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/609881/NZ-to-create-world-leading-ecosystem-of-digital-health-innovation.htm

NZ to create world-leading ecosystem of digital health innovation

Tuesday, 28 June 2022  

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

The government wants New Zealand to create a world-leading ecosystem of digital health innovation, Labour MP Sarah Pallett said at the MTANZ HealthTech Conference.

Pallett, who is a member of the health select committee, spoke at the Auckland conference on June 28, in place of Health Minister Andrew Little, who was unwell.

She said the system has been poorly served by a fragmented approach to technology - driven by multiple PHOs and DHBs - and data and digital is key to unlocking the potential of the health sector to deliver on the government’s ambition.

On Friday July 1 the new national entities Health NZ and the Māori Health Authority are established.
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http://infinity.wecabrio.com/B081VR7JTJ-digital-in-health-about-a-breathtaking-future-of.pdf

Digital in Health: About a breathtaking future of healthcare (English Edition)

Read Or Downloads Digital in Health: About a breathtaking future of healthcare (English Edition)

4/5 (1186 ratings)

Book Description:

Indicating ways to improve patient-outcome was the main driver writing this book. Two years of research, structuring, collecting, and writing around the central subject of our days: digital.Similar to other spheres of our lives, digital has the power...

Title: Digital in Health: About a breathtaking future of healthcare (English Edition).
Author: Hanno Wolfram.
File Type: PDF EPUB MOBI KINDLE.
Pages: 357 Pages.
MD5 Hash Code: 8816feba6925a0da747d5692ba4b4679.

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https://www.cesphn.org.au/news/latest-updates/5459-ansc-june-2022-update-rpa-women-and-babies-canterbury-hospital-3

ANSC June 2022 Update: RPA Women and Babies/Canterbury Hospital

Discharge summaries on MyHealthRecord

ANSC GPs are reminded that hospital discharge summaries are available via their patient’s MyHealthRecord. This includes ED presentations, EPAS admissions and well as birthing discharge summaries. These summaries are uploaded to MyHealthRecord within 24 hours of discharge.  

If you are having trouble accessing discharge summaries, please contact the GP Shared Care Midwife Melanie Tulloch on 0425 230 662 (Monday to Friday 8am-4:30pm).

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https://seniorocity.com.au/whats-on-perth/digital-literacy-mygov-and-my-health-record-wanneroo-library/

Digital Literacy – myGov and My Health Record @ Wanneroo Library

July 5 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Have you heard about myGov and My Health Record but don’t know how to set them up or how to use them?

Join Tim Coghill from Technologically Speaking in this workshop and we will focus on myGov and My Health Record apps.

You’ll go step-by-step through setting up a brand new myGov account, if you need to. Don’t worry, the process is simple and easy. Remember to have your email address and your mobile phone to hand, so you’re ready to go.

Your My Health Record account is a convenient way to keep all your medical information together in one place. You can work with your doctor to build a Shared Health Summary and set things up so people have all the information they need to help you in an emergency.

This workshop will introduce you to My Health Record and help you get started, as well as give you some examples for where My Health Record is useful.

Bring your own device.

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https://gcphn.org.au/influenza-test-results-now-available-to-consumers-immediately-on-upload-to-my-health-record/

Content last updated 29/06/2022

Influenza test results now available to consumers immediately on upload to My Health Record

A change has been made to My Health Record to give consumers faster access to common respiratory infection test reports, such as influenza.

Consumers who have these tests processed by a pathology lab that uploads to My Health Record can now see the reports as soon as they are uploaded. Consumers can see the reports in their Pathology Report screen. They are also available as a quick link from the COVID-19 dashboard under a renamed section Recent COVID-19 and respiratory tests.

The Australian Digital Health Agency states, “This change is an important step in supporting our frontline colleagues contending with a mounting wave of respiratory infections over winter”.

You can find out more about pathology and diagnostic imaging providers uploading to My Health Record on the Digital Health website.

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https://developer.digitalhealth.gov.au/resources/news/hips-mobile-v30-released

HIPS Mobile v3.0 Released

The Australian Digital Health Agency has announced the release of HIPS Mobile v3.0.

The Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) has announced a major new release of HIPS Mobile:

·         HIPS Mobile v3.0

HIPS Mobile allows clinicians in the hospital setting to have mobile device access to patient My Health Record information while engaging with patients in ward and bed-side settings or remotely off-site.

Clinicians in public and private hospitals already widely rely on mobile devices (smart phones and tablets) for accessing their patients’ clinical information, so HIPS Mobile will add My Health Record patient data access to their repertoire.

Key improvements

HIPS Mobile v3.0 is the next major release, featuring the following major improvements and defect fixes:

  • Allows connection to multiple Active Directories
  • Addition of biometric authentication
  • Login experience improvements
  • Wildcard search on patient names
  • Installation process improvements
  • Data archiving functionality

Who will this affect?

  • Healthcare provider organisations
  • System integrators
  • Software vendors

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https://www.ddwmphn.com.au/upcoming-events/my-health-record-for-specialist-practices-2

Wed 6 Jul

My Health Record for specialist practices

Join this webinar to learn about the core features of My Health Record and using your clinical software (Clinic to Cloud, Audit 4, BpVIP.net and others) to view and upload clinical information. The sessions are designed to be interactive where participants are encouraged to ask questions. Following a live demonstration during this webinar, you will understand how to:

  • Save time by accessing overview summary documents including medicines, immunisations, pathology and diagnostic imaging reports
  • Find documents relevant to your clinical practice e.g. Discharge Summaries
  • View the available Medicare information.
  • Upload a Specialist Letter.

This activity is tailored specifically for Specialists and their teams.

This activity can be counted for 1 hour of Group-1 CPD (or 1 CPD credit), suitable for inclusion in an individual’s CPD plan.

When
10:00am - 11:00am,
Wednesday 6 July 2022

Where
Online

Organiser
Australian Digital Health Agency

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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/lead-cyber-security-awareness-and-education-officer

Lead Cyber Security Awareness and Education Officer

APS6 ($101,757 - $114,800)
Technology Services Division > Security
Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney

Closing - 17 Jul 2022

Division Overview

Technology services – responsible for the operation of high quality, trusted, reliable and secure national digital health infrastructure and health support systems

Primary purpose of position 

Are you a passionate about cyber security awareness and education? Would you be up to the task of a national role protecting vital healthcare information? Are you keen to collaborate and work with a range of stakeholders, guiding them on the latest technology developments that impact their operations? Then the Lead Cyber Security Awareness and Education Officer role is for you! Expand the range of cyber security guidance materials for the healthcare sector that are published by the Agency and providing input into campaigns designed to distribute these materials to healthcare audiences. You will need to have experience working in a Security Operations Centre, incident management & threat analysis. The Lead Cyber Security Awareness and Education Officer will be responsible for but not limited to:

  • Work collaboratively to understand the current and future requirements of the diverse group of organisations that form the Australian healthcare sector and developing appropriate security guidance materials to address these needs.
  • Expand the range of cyber security guidance materials for the healthcare sector that are published by the Agency and providing input into campaigns designed to distribute these materials to healthcare audiences.
  • Support security engagement events for stakeholder groups involved in the Australian healthcare sector.
  • Assist with activities designed to raise the security posture of the Australian healthcare sector.
  • Contribute subject matter expertise to review or provide cyber security related content for National campaigns such as those related to the My Health Record system.
  • Developing materials and campaigns to support the security culture within the Agency and awareness of strong cyber security practices that can be adopted by Agency workers.
  • Maintain and continue to develop relationships to enable the Cyber Security Centre to deliver Agency goals by working with external stakeholders, such as Federal, state and territory governments, agencies, industry bodies, and global partners.
  • Support the branch leadership team to achieve strategic outcomes and actively collaborating with other areas of the Agency, to achieve organisational goals.
  • Contribute to managing change and uncertainty in the workplace.
  • Set priorities for the work area, maintain team cohesion, and ensure quality of outputs for the work area.
  • Contribute to the development of team objectives for short term tasks and strategic planning for longer-term initiatives.

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https://itwire.com/it-industry-news/telecoms-and-nbn/nbn-co-offers-almost-10gbps-services-to-business-customers.html

Thursday, 30 June 2022 15:44

NBN Co offers 'almost' 10Gbps services to business customers

By Stephen Withers

NBN Enterprise Ethernet services for businesses now offer wholesale speeds "up to almost 10 gigabits per second."

NBN Enterprise Ethernet is available in selected areas, and potential customers include the approximately 900,000 businesses located in the 304 business fibre zones which are said to cover much of Australia, including regional towns and cities.

It will also be available on request at many data centres in metro and regional areas.

New plans range from 2Gbps to "close to 10Gbps" (but no more than 952 Mbps due to equipment and network limitations), which compares favourably with the previous limit of 1Gbps. Significantly, these services are symmetrical, ie the upload and download speeds are the same.

NBN Enterprise Ethernet uses dedicated fibre between the fibre access node and the premises, and have an availability target of around 99.95% (excluding faults outside the NBN network).

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-boosts-its-business-service-to-10gbps-582047

NBN Co boosts its business service to 10Gbps

By Richard Chirgwin on Jun 30, 2022 10:52AM

Available now for connection within 50 business days.

NBN Co has followed TPG into the 10 Gbps business service market.

The move comes as the result of enhancements to NBN Co's wholesale Enterprise Ethernet product, and will be available in 304 business fibre zones whose footprint covers a claimed 900,000 businesses.

Plans are now available to retailers in speed tiers from 2Gbps up to 10Gbps, symmetric.

The fibre-to-the-premises business product is “Ethernet standards compatible” across all retailers, NBN Co said in its announcement.

Target customers cited by NBN Co include “health professionals supporting highly data intensive imaging; schools requiring plans based on dedicated wholesale bandwidth on the NBN; and franchises running business-critical and cloud applications and small to medium businesses with high upload and download requirements”.

Around two-thirds of locations in the NBN business fibre zones are eligible to get the high speed services delivered within 50 business days.

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https://itwire.com/business-telecoms/optus-urges-accc-to-oppose-telstra-and-tpg-merger.html

Wednesday, 29 June 2022 08:22

Optus urges ACCC to oppose Telstra and TPG merger

By Kenn Anthony Mendoza

Telecommunications company Optus has once again urged The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to oppose the merger of Telstra, stressing that the proposed transaction will lead to less competition, higher prices, and less resilient communities. The company has now made publicly available the six-page executive summary of its submission to the regulatory body.

The document details how the merger will negatively affect businesses and regional consumers alike. As Telstra is the only dominant market in these regional communities, the report pointed out there will be slower access to new technologies.

"It [the merger] creates a dependency for TPG on Telstra, imposes limitations on the basis by which TPG can compete, and ensures Telstra has control over network decisions and pricing levels. On the contrary, it will strengthen Telstra, weaken Optus and the competitive pressure that Optus imposes on Telstra, and reduce the resilience and reliability of Australia's telecommunication in regional areas, in some cases to the point where there may be no coverage in times of natural disaster," one of the points in the summary read.

The Optus summary also claimed that less competition will yield to higher prices, a loss for consumers.

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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.

Executive general manager, new developments, Andrew Walsh, said with the “scale build” of the NBN complete, the organisation is “constantly talking to the market to understand what they need”.

“So we’re looking at creating an offering for our property developer customers,” he said.

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https://itwire.com/nbn/nbn-offers-smart-places-for-home-developers-and-buyers.html

Friday, 24 June 2022 12:20

NBN offers Smart Places for home developers and buyers

By Kenn Anthony Mendoza

Four out of five buyers already expect an NBN network connection in their newly-built homes, providing a valuable selling point for their properties, according to NBN.

Leveraging this information, NBN is offering Smart Places, featuring miniaturised, ruggedised and reverse-powered network connection devices that provide NBN connection to outdoor locations that aren’t serviceable using standard equipment.

NBN says the Smart Places pilot program is running at 35 locations across the country, delivered across in a wide range of scenarios: traffic lights, electric vehicle charging stations, public parks and skate parks, as well as in conjunction with the operation of water infrastructure.

As of June 2022, developers can now place orders for the construction of the infrastructure as part of their property development project after 1 January 2023—a proof that the trials have been a success, according to NBN.

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Enjoy!

David.

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