Do You Think What Is Discussed Here Will Provide Any Real Worthwhile Outcome(s)?

This popped up a few days ago:

MEDIA STATEMENT

March 21 2024

In a significant stride towards advancing digital health leadership across the nation, the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) and the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) proudly announce the release of the Clinical Informatics Fellowship Stakeholder Engagement Report. This pivotal document outlines the proposed framework for Australia’s Clinical Informatics Fellowship (CIF) Program, highlighting a collective commitment to develop a recognised clinical informatics fellowship pathway.

The report emphasises the critical need to establish a valued and accredited career path for clinicians and clinical informaticians, aiming to bolster the evolution of digital health leadership within Australia. This initiative stems from the collaborative efforts of the AIDH and DHCRC, who, with the support of DHCRC’s funding, embarked on a journey through 2022 and 2023 to conceive a Clinical Informatics Fellowship pathway. This endeavour involved research into international models and consultations with a diverse group of stakeholders, including healthcare leaders, educational institutions, and professional associations.

Feedback gathered over 18 months from a wide array of contributors has been instrumental in shaping the program.

The Report details the governance structure, analytical processes, stakeholder engagement, and consultation efforts, culminating in a summary of stakeholder feedback and adjustments made following these discussions. Additionally, it identifies critical areas requiring further exploration before the initiation of a pilot program for the new fellowship pathway.

Future Directions and Objectives

As we move into 2024 the AIDH and DHCRC are working collaboratively on planning the forthcoming stages of the fellowship program, including a pilot phase with a select group of candidates. This step is crucial for refining the program based on participant feedback, paving the way for its official launch to potential digital health community candidates.

Both organisations reiterate their commitment to continuous engagement with the digital health community, healthcare professionals, educational institutions, and other key stakeholders as they progress through this developmental phase.

About the Clinical Informatics Fellowship

The CIF Program is designed to recognise clinical informatics as a distinguished profession in Australia and internationally. It aims to cultivate a broad and diverse pool of skilled clinical informaticians, aligning with AIDH’s Australian Health Informatics Competency Framework (AHICF). The program will offer clinicians a path to achieve a nationally recognised Fellowship, highlighting their specialised knowledge, skills, and credentials in informatics.

Media contact: media@digitalhealth.org.au

Here is the link:

https://digitalhealth.org.au/career-building/clinical-informatics-fellowship/

Also we have the Media Statement

AIDH MEDIA STATEMENT

An engagement report informing the proposed model for a Clinical Informatics Fellowship (CIF) Program in Australia was released today, with a commitment to progress the build of a clinical informatics fellowship pathway through 2024.

The report emphasises the importance of establishing a recognised and valued professional trajectory for clinicians and clinical informaticians, fostering the growth of digital health leadership in Australia.

During 2022 and 2023, the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) and the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) partnered on a project to build a Clinical Informatics Fellowship pathway. The project, funded by DHCRC, explored international models and engaged key stakeholders and experts in the design of a new fellowship pathway for Australia.

The Clinical Informatics Fellowship Stakeholder Engagement Report details the project’s governance, analysis undertaken, stakeholder involvement and consultation, which took place on the project during 2022 and 2023. Stakeholder input was received over 18 months from leadership of AIDH and DHCRC, clinicians, healthcare executives, universities, clinical colleges and associations.  AIDH and DHCRC would like to restate their gratitude for the comprehensive feedback that was contributed by the healthcare community.

The Report summarises stakeholder feedback, illustrating the refinements following consultation, and noting the outstanding matters to be worked through prior to commencement of a pilot of the new fellowship pathway.

“We are delighted to publish the Stakeholder Engagement Report in partnership with DHCRC and inform the broader health community on progress towards our goal of a widely recognised career pathway for emerging leaders in digital health”, said AIDH’s Interim CEO, Mark Nevin FAIDH.

Progressing Work through 2024

The DHCRC and the AIDH are discussing the next stages of the program of work to complete the build of the clinical informatics fellowship pathway and undertake a pilot. The pilot is intended to evaluate the new fellowship pathway and provide insights into further improvements. The pathway will then be officially launched to potential candidates within the digital health community.

Annette Schmiede, CEO of DHCRC said, “We are proud to collaborate with AIDH and support the progression of this ambitious program of work. A clinical informatics pathway, open to all health professions, would be a global first and support the digital transformation of our healthcare system”.

AIDH and DHCRC are committed to ongoing consultation with the digital health community, clinicians, healthcare leaders, universities, clinical colleges and other peak bodies as we advance through the next stage of development of the program.

Notes to Editors

The objectives of CIF Program are to:

• Establish clinical informatics as an acknowledged and recognised profession in Australia, with international credibility and standing
• Build and foster a large and diverse workforce of skilled and well-networked clinical informaticians who are included in leadership in the digital transformation of the health and social care sectors
• Align with AIDH’s Australian Health Informatics Competency Framework (AHICF), which outlines essential domains of expertise and corresponding competencies required for proficiency in health informatics.

The Clinical Informatics Fellowship Stakeholder Engagement Report is available here
Further information about AIDH is available here
Further information about DHCRC is available here

Here is a link:

https://digitalhealth.org.au/blog/clinical-informatics-fellowship-stakeholder-engagement-report-released/

The rather sad thing about all this is the pursuit of status rather than just getting on with things and having clarity as to purpose and status come as a natural by-product!

Who knew that digital leadership needed to be "advanced"?

Come on team – show you are useful and worthwhile and you will get the recognition and status you seem to be obsessed by! I note the recognized experts from the US and the UK – and our own as well – don’t seem to need all this recognition etc. Those who matter know who they are and that is all that is needed!

David.

In passing I wonder is the plan to scrap all the present Fellows and Associate Fellows of the AIDH and start again? Might not be a bad idea? Can we also get rid of all those silly "badges" while we are at it?

See here:

https://digitalhealth.org.au/digital-badges/

What madness!

D.