This new release appeared a few days ago:
New plan to deliver digital health capability across the health workforce to respond to the needs of consumers now and in the future.
Published 17 October 2022
In the face of these challenges, digital health is transforming the way that many patients manage their health and experience healthcare and driving a step change in the delivery of health services.
The Capability Action Plan (CAP) – designed to support Australia’s health workforce to continue to develop the skills they need to deliver the best care for Australians in an increasingly digital world – sets out priority actions that are required across the workforce to respond to the needs of consumers, now and in the future.
The CAP is a collaboration between the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) and the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) in partnership with key stakeholders from across the health ecosystem. Under the CAP the Agency and AIDH will work together over the next two years to support healthcare workers to deliver virtual and connected care to Australians by equipping them with the tools and capabilities that they need to operate as effectively as possible in this rapidly evolving environment.
Agency CEO Amanda Cattermole said “across the health sector concerted action is required to build the capability of the workforce so that the benefits of digital health are realised for more patients in more settings. Workforce strategy development and planning requires consultation, including with professional colleges, universities and educators and employers in the public and private sectors. Coordination of effort is also vital, and the AIDH, with its strong existing knowledge, relationships and independence in this area, is well positioned to take on this role.”
AIDH CEO Dr Louise Schaper said the Institute’s primary focus for the last four years has been advancing the digital capability of the health workforce.
“The Institute, its Fellows and Members, already work with many health professions on workforce advancement, through accreditation and training, with programs that start with the basics of digital health to more advanced workforce-based programs.” “The nursing and midwifery workforce has started to upskill by assessing capability in public and private sectors and creating a starting point to build programs for education and training. It’s time to take this to all health professions on a larger scale” she said.
The CAP, which can be found at digitalhealth.gov.au/about-us/strategies-and-plans, is a two-year program of work that sets out the initiatives including working towards standard capability frameworks, guidelines, resources and tools identified through previous work, planning, and ongoing sector consultation to equip Australia’s health workforce for a connected, digitally-enabled future.
Media contact
Australian Digital Health
Agency
Mobile: 0428 772 421
Email:
media@digitalhealth.gov.au
About the Australian Digital Health Agency
When it comes to improving the health of all Australians, the role of digital innovation and connection is a vital part of a modern, accessible healthcare system. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, digital health has seen exponential growth in relevance and importance, making it more pertinent than ever for all Australians and healthcare providers.
Better patient healthcare and health outcomes are possible when you have a health infrastructure that can be safely accessed, easily used and responsibly shared.
To achieve this, the National Digital Health Strategy is establishing the foundations for a sustainable health system that constantly improves. It underpins and coordinates work that is already happening between governments, healthcare providers, consumers, innovators and the technology industry.
For further information: www.digitalhealth.gov.au.
The Australian Digital Health Agency is a statutory authority in the form of a corporate Commonwealth entity.
About the Australasian Institute of Digital Health
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health is the peak body for digital health representing a united and influential single voice for health informatics and digital health leaders and practitioners.
The vision of the Institute is “healthier lives, digitally enabled”. Fellows and Members of the Institute represent a diverse range of professions involved in delivering health and social care. This includes health informaticians, clinicians, researchers, healthcare managers and executives, data analysts, designers, project managers, business analysts, technologists and innovators.
As a leading member of the global health informatics and digital health community, the Institute is also the forum for sharing international best practice, digital healthcare trends and health system innovation.
Here is a download link to the 36 page Powerpoint:
Download the Capability Action Plan (PDF, 914.65 KB)
In my usual way I have had a browse to try and see what is happening. A few points.
1. On page 12 we learn work leading to this has been underway since July 2018 as (part of?) The National Digital Health Strategy & Framework for Action which shows the level of urgency.
2. This plan seems to actually be developed in July 2021 with a steering group, consultations and so on.
3. The plan now has 11 actions across 4 themes.
4. The document is rich with frameworks and guidelines – often repeated many times.
5. The last major heading is “ Next steps (p33): Broad engagement and collaboration will be central to implementation of the CAP and to achieving increased digital health capability across the workforce”
So this is a document suggesting engagement and collaboration! No suggestions as to resources, specific actions etc that I could see.
Well I guess producing a 36 page PowerPoint constitutes “Job Done”. I am not seeing much ever come from this!
Surely the ADHA needs a major shake-up and to actually start delivering other than guff!
David.
How about they get on with that review of end-to-end security that the ANAO recommended and the ADHA agreed to?
ReplyDeleteYou can't just single out the ADHA for 'criticism' David. The AIDH as a 'collaborative partner with ADHA' is equally responsible for this 'gumph'. They are both supporting each other to justify to the government why they need more money to 'deliver' this '36 pages of stuff'.
ReplyDeleteIt shatters my brain to think about the huge number of seemingly good people who have been seduced into helping compile this CAP document, including the resources, time and energy that must have been expended. Is there no pragmatism at work anymore? Is this called progress?
I see the two of them as equal-opportunity offenders!
ReplyDeleteDavid.
Equal-opportunity offenders indeed. The deep concern is that because they are considered 'the leaders' they end up leading everyone over the CLIFF. It's no wonder digital health is in such a diabolical mess.
ReplyDeleteWhy is this happening?
ReplyDelete@5:12 PM Surely the answer is as 4:16 PM inferred - the problem is 'the leaders'. Which 'leaders'? 'Who' are they? But isn't that rather vague and glib?
ReplyDeleteI think it should have been called the Capability and Resourcing Action Plan (CRAP).
ReplyDelete@5:12 PM You ask why is this happening. It's not welcome news because it somewhat contra to the prevailing marketing hype. It's much easier to be like the proverbial ostrich. Even so, for what it's worth, I think some of the most significant root-causes are a mix of:
ReplyDelete- failed leadership
- multiple conflicted vested interests
- uncontrolled egos
- too much money to spend
- inadequate problem solving
- over-rated sense of urgency.
@2:18 PM In a word: incompetence. Which is an accusation that can be leveled at the whole of the APS when it comes to IT.
ReplyDeleteThe websites of MyGov, Centrelink and MyHr all have the same clunky, oversized, hard to navigate style. They have been redeveloped to look good to bureaucrats, not end users.
I had cause to go into my Centrelink account to inform them of a change in circumstances. Could I work out how to do it? No. I have an obligation to inform them within a certain period of time. My only option was to write a letter and upload it as a general input, totally unrelated to the subject matter.
I then had a look at my MyHR. It is literally full of documents. There maybe some health data in there, but it works as a poor man's document management system, not a health record. Clinically it is useless.
Calling them a bunch of amateurs is being unkind and disrespectful to amateurs.
@6:18PM "Incompetence" has many shades making it relatively meaningless. You need to spell out what you mean.
ReplyDelete