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, January 16, 2023

Weekly Australian Health IT Links – 16 January, 2023.

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 distinct ramping up in activity this week – maybe 60% of normal.

Has anyone else noticed how keen the Labor Communications Minister is in glamour shots of herself with NBN articles that mention her – or is that just me?

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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/anz/sa-health-rolling-out-sunrise-emr-regional-hospitals

SA Health rolling out Sunrise EMR in regional hospitals

The implementation will be done over the next two years.

By Adam Ang

January 12, 2023 02:22 AM

SA Health will start implementing the Sunrise EMR by Altera Digital Health across regional hospitals and local health networks.

Over the next two years, it will roll out the EMR system in regional SA in partnership with Digital Health SA. 

WHY IT MATTERS

It is said that LHNs account for about a third of acute hospital beds across SA. Regional patients are poised to benefit from the ongoing statewide EMR rollout as it is expected to improve patient experience. Particularly, it is seen to reduce the need for them to repeat pathology and x-ray imaging and provide medical information at every stage of their treatment journey as information will be readily available to clinicians anywhere. 

The regional implementations will also support clinical and administrative workforce to deliver improved care by streamlining processes. 

Based on a media release, Limestone Coast, Flinders and Upper North, and Barossa Hills Fleurieu LHNs will be the first to be activated, followed by Riverland Mallee Coorong and Yorke and Northern LHNs, then Eyre and Far North LHN.

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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/pollies-out-independence-key-for-australian-cdc/83790

11 January 2023

Pollies out: independence key for Australian CDC

By Holly Payne

The government’s proposed Centre for Disease Control could turn general practice data into public health gold. First, people have to trust it.


Peak medical bodies say the public is more likely to trust the Australian Centre for Disease Control if politicians keep their mitts off the project.

Establishing an Australian CDC was one of Labor’s election promises, but the only confirmed details so far are that its initial scope will include pandemic preparedness and that it will likely launch early next year.

According to the RACGP response to the government consultation paper on the vision for the CDC, the covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that, while Australians do largely trust the government, there is also a widespread sense of scepticism.

“The … initial vacuum of information relating to a new disease provided fertile ground for the dissemination of misinformation, non-evidence-based health claims and vaccine scepticism,” the college said.

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https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/racgp/in-practice-digital-health-essentials

In Practice: Digital health essentials

A new webinar series aims to strengthen GPs’ digital health capabilities, starting with key cyber security concepts.

The Practice Essentials webinar will cover key cyber security concepts.

This week’s In Practice also contains details on how practices can apply to join the new GP-led Respiratory Clinical Panel (GPRCP).
 
Practice Essentials Webinar Series 2023
The RACGP, in partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA), is running a series of digital health webinars in the first half of 2023.
 
Attendees can strengthen their capabilities in cyber security, refresh their knowledge of My Health Record and learn how Provider Connect Australia improves the quality of healthcare service information.
 
The first webinar is being held on 19 January and will cover key cyber security concepts including ransomware, password security, phishing scams, network and device security, and how to respond to any breaches.
 
Find out more and register online.
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https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/704561/icognition-lifts-govt-agency-aofm-cms-cloud/

iCognition lifts govt agency AOFM’s CMS to the cloud

Re-engineered the agency’s information architecture and configuration.

Sasha Karen (ARN) 10 January, 2023 10:44

Services provider iCognition has taken another government agency’s content management system to the cloud, providing services for the Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM). 

Specifically, iCognition implemented its Enterprise Content Management/Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) software-as-a-service, otherwise known as EDRMSaaS.cloud, within the agency. 

The AOFM issues debt securities on behalf of the Australian government, manages cash and debt flows, provides advice on financial risks and supports smaller lenders by investments through securitisation markets. 

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https://wildhealth.net.au/data-project-a-lifeboat-for-gps-managing-long-covid/

15 December 2022

Data project a lifeboat for GPs managing long covid

By Talia Meyerowitz-Katz

A new research project hopes to shed some light on how GPs can better manage long covid patients.

Data will be extracted from Outcome Health’s data feedback system Population Level Analysis and Reporting (POLAR), and analyse it to better understand how long covid is presented and managed in primary care.

According to Associate Professor Chris Pearce, director of research at Outcome Health, data on long covid is still scarce.

“We have some data coming from the hospital networks, but not very much from general practice,” he told Wild Health.

But GPs are on the “front line’” of long covid management, Professor Pearce said, so the lack of data is leaving them in the dark.

“The challenge is that evidence-based research in long covid is limited, which in turn leads to minimal awareness around the condition. By more deeply understanding how GPs identify and classify long covid we can increase the evidence pool in this area and in turn advance research in long covid,” Professor Pearce said in a statement.

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https://wildhealth.net.au/philips-steps-down-hospital-in-the-home-platforms-in-aus/

12 January 2023

Philips steps down hospital in the home platforms in Aus

Virtual/Remote Care

By Wendy John

Dutch medical manufacturer Philips is halting parts of its virtual care business in Australia, prompting questions about the sustainability of Australia’s virtual care sector.

Ms Sarah Al-Hashimi, corporate communications leader at Philips Australia and New Zealand, confirmed the change to Wild Health on Tuesday.

“Philips regularly assesses its business portfolios to focus its innovation investments in areas that can deliver the greatest benefit to our customers. In light of this, we have decided to stop taking new orders for Engage and QuestManager,” Ms Al-Hashimi said.

Philips have been operating in Australia for over five years and appeared to be gaining market share. In 2020 they won a $6.5 million contract for virtual care services at Royal Perth Hospital. In 2021 they struck a deal with Teladoc and were also shortlisted for a large NSW Health tender for virtual care services. NSW Health have not yet advised the outcome of the tender.

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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/product-test-and-assurance-lead-06012023

Product Test and Assurance Lead

APS6 ($101,757 - $114,800)
Digital Strategy Division > Info/Comm Tech (ICT)
Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney

Closing - 22 Jan 2023

Division Overview

Digital strategy – responsible for national digital health design and strategy, underpinned by strong clinical governance and digital health standards.

Primary purpose of position 

The APS6 Product Test and Assurance Lead is responsible for the following:

·         Managing the testing and assurance services of Agency products

·         Driving and implementing improvements in the quality of testing and assurance services

·         Leading the inspection and review of testing delivery performed by 3rd parties in their release of functionality supporting Agency foundational products (e.g., My Health Record).

·         Reviewing test deliverables, artefacts and executions to ensure the scope and accuracy of the testing provides functionality that meets the Agency’s requirements and is “fit for purpose”

·         Undertaking change management processes as directed

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https://compas.com.au/job/aps5-quality-assurance-assessors-2337/

APS5 Quality Assurance Assessors

Architecture/Database

HR & Recruitment

IT & T

Project Management / Business Analysts

Software Development & Testing/IT Security & Compliance

Contract to 30 June 2023
Baseline Clearance Preferred
Canberra City Location
 
About the Role
Our Federal Government client requires four APS5 equivalent Quality Assurance Assessors to assist in undertaking Quality Assurance reviews of assessments. The ideal candidate will have good communication skills, and experience in auditing or assurance assessment, with strong critical thinking skills.
 
Responsibilities

  • Conducting accurate and timely assessments of employment services provider records and related documentary evidence to confirm compliance with relevant Guideline and Deed requirements
  • Accurate assessment and recording of data
  • Assess other assessors'/auditors' work and provide feedback

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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/data-design-lead-non-ongoing

Data Design Lead (Non-ongoing)

EL1 ($125,047 - $142,618)
Digital Strategy Division > Data and Research
Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney

Closing - 30 Jan 2023

Division Overview

Digital strategy – responsible for national digital health design and strategy, underpinned by strong clinical governance and digital health standards.

Primary Purpose of Position 

This role sits within the Data Insights and Design Branch. (This is a 12-month non-ongoing appointment until 12/01/2024).

As the EL1 Data Design Lead, you focus on bringing analytics and data to life across the organisation. You will do this by being hands-on and working with the Data and Reporting team to develop simple, highly engaging dashboards and designs. This will involve leading the transformation of the Agency towards a consistent and effective approach to storytelling through data while supporting the data-driven decision-making process across the Agency.

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/events/c3-connect-care-confidence-a-summit-on-clinical-governance-in-digital-health-4471

C3.0 Connect. Care. Confidence — A Summit on Clinical Governance in Digital Health

07 February, 2023 - 07 February, 2023

C3.0 is an interactive event designed to encourage participation and contribution through a range of sessions on clinical governance in digital health. It is focused on the theme: “C3.0. Connect. Care. Confidence.”

Master of Ceremonies Peter Birch, CEO & Founder of Talking HealthTech, will moderate a program of keynote speakers and panel sessions from experts in their fields.

Participants will gain tips on how to adapt existing clinical governance approaches, or on how to start thinking about where clinical governance fits into an organisation when considering digital health solutions.

Event Details


Date

07 February, 2023 - 07 February, 2023

Online

Click here to visit the event website

Venue

Online

Organiser

Australian Digital Health Agency

Phone

1300 901 001

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/accc-flags-concerns-over-nbn-pricing-changes-to-popular-plans/news-story/e72ba9a09e5e0aed08cd4f99d03122d4

ACCC flags concerns over NBN pricing changes to popular plans

By David Swan

6:26PM January 13, 2023

Australia’s consumer watchdog has flagged concerns on proposed changes that would underpin the NBN’s price and service through to 2040, highlighting “apparent limitations” with the regulator’s ability to ensure efficient operations of broadband services, and issues of broadband affordability.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Friday published a paper responding to NBN Co’s latest pricing proposal – known as the Special Access Undertaking – a significant shake-up in which the company would pay its government loan while lifting the prices of some plans and lowering others.

ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said it was “not presently clear how specific aspects would promote the long-term interests of the consumers and businesses that rely on the NBN”.

Last year, NBN Co abandoned plans to privatise, instead focusing on “upgrading and improving” its network as well as meeting net-zero emissions targets. The government-owned company last year had been pushing for price increases that would have improved in a move towards privatisation, but was then forced to withdraw its SAU after it was rejected by the new Labor government which told NBN Co to instead focus on affordability, service speed and quality.

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https://www.afr.com/technology/accc-raises-concerns-over-planned-nbn-price-rises-20230113-p5ccf1

ACCC raises concerns over planned NBN price rises

Tess Bennett Technology reporter

Jan 13, 2023 – 5.25pm

The consumer watchdog may send NBN Co back to the drawing board for a third time to revise its proposed wholesale pricing plan, after raising concerns the changes could push some consumers onto more expensive plans.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Friday released a consultation paper on the NBN Co’s proposed variation to its special access undertaking (SAU), which sets the maximum prices and minimum service standards for NBN broadband providers.

Lodged with the ACCC in November, the draft pricing proposal is NBN Co’s second attempt, after it withdrew its previous proposal in July.

The regulator has called for submissions and will host a round of consultations before coming to a final decision on whether to accept the proposal.

Under the proposed pricing, on the 50Mbps plan the base wholesale cost will increase from $45 a month to $50 a month for Telstra, Optus and other providers, while the NBN retains extra capacity-based fees as far as 2026.

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/where-accc-went-wrong-on-telstra-tpg-regional-mobile-deal/news-story/5f1bcc986d4af98d2ef044d93906b022

Where ACCC went wrong on Telstra, TPG regional mobile deal

Eric Johnston

7:31PM January 11, 2023

Telstra and TPG have argued the competition regulator has fundamentally misunderstood how their planned mobile network sharing arrangement across regional Australia will work, as they attempt to overturn the ACCC’s pre-Christmas ruling that blocks the landmark deal.

The telcos have also rubbished the ACCC’s ‘hypothetical’ that TPG, the owner of the Vodafone brand, would run to number two player Optus for a network sharing deal after being locked out of Telstra. This is the ACCC’s preferred course of events, with the regulator convinced that this would deliver a better outcome for Australian mobile phone users.

The comments by the telcos were made in newly released filings to the three-member Australian Competition Tribunal that has the power to uphold, vary or overrule the ACCC’s landmark decision around a mobile tower sharing deal. A ruling by the tribunal is governed by a strict timeline of within 90 days, or up to 120 days if new evidence is presented.

It is shaping up as a major decision in how the telco market is evolving in the world following the merger of TPG and Vodafone, with the ACCC fearing that a small decision today has the potential to give Telstra a significant structural leg-up particularly in regional Australia over time. And if this happens it also fears Optus will give up trying to carve out a credible market for itself in regional Australia given Telstra’s dominance.

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/government-must-intervene-on-rural-telco-littleproud/news-story/31cc7d6b2da7b0dbdab50d529540ec1e

Government must intervene on rural telco: Littleproud

By David Swan

2:46PM January 9, 2023

Nationals leader David Littleproud is calling for federal government intervention into mobile coverage reliability, welcoming the ACCC’s recent move to block a $1.8bn TPG-Telstra network sharing deal but urging further reform to improve rural services.

Mr Littleproud, who has long been an outspoken critic of Telstra’s market dominance across regional and rural Australia, applauded the ACCC’s decision to block a 10-year infrastructure sharing deal between Telstra and TPG, a move that is currently being appealed by the telcos.

The Labor government now needs to extend the Universal Service Guarantee (USG) to mobile phones from landlines, and introduce mandated mobile roaming to grow the regions and protect lives, he said.

The Nationals leader said mandated roaming in regional and remote and regional areas would share all towers between all telcos, which would maintain and improve both coverage and competition.

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/once-in-50000year-comet-may-be-visible-to-naked-eye/news-story/22439bf003d80463959044888276084d

Once in 50,000-year comet may be visible to naked eye

By AFP

10:52PM January 8, 2023

A newly discovered comet could be visible to the naked eye as it shoots past Earth and the sun in the coming weeks for the first time in 50,000 years.

The comet is called C/2022 E3 (ZTF) after the Zwicky Transient Facility, which first spotted it passing Jupiter in March last year.

After travelling from the icy reaches of our solar system it will come closest to the sun on January 12 and pass nearest to Earth on February 1.

It will be easy to see with a good pair of binoculars and probably even with the naked eye, provided the sky is not too lit up by city lights or the moon.

The comet “will be brightest when it is closest to the Earth”, said Thomas Prince, a physics professor at the California Institute of Technology who works at the Zwicky Transient Facility.

Made of ice and dust and emitting a greenish aura, the comet is estimated to have a diameter of about a kilometre, said Nicolas Biver, an astrophysicist at the Paris Observatory.

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Enjoy!

David.

 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is Sunrise EMR by Altera Digital Health a new player from USA in the Australian market or has it just been rebranded to clear the decks and distance itself from some earlier 'failed' implementation?

Anonymous said...

@8:36 PM - Good question. Altera is simply a rebranding of ALLSCRIPTS which in relation to South Australia is an attempt to distance itself from the earlier big mess created by AllScripts at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.