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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It seems we are going back to full lockdown mode all over with telemedicine becoming more fully available again and on-line shopping all the go again.
I have to say I really think Gladys has stuck us in limbo by delaying tightening the lockdown requirements for way 2 long. It was pretty clear at least 3-4 days ago (or longer) that more was needed!
All NSW is going to suffer for this.
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Former Queensland Health exec reveals he resigned from $35m RIVeR project in 2019 over his concerns
Matthew Newton, The Cairns Post
July 13, 2021 5:00am
A FORMER Queensland Health executive says he resigned from the project to develop a $35m e-health record in 2019 because he believed it was “no longer in a position to achieve its original objectives”.
The program, known as RIVeR, is now nine months into a rollout across a total 28 sites, and has been heavily criticised by the Together Queensland Union and the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union.
The original intention of RIVeR was to create a single electronic patient medical record system accessible in 58 primary, community and hospital settings from the Torres Strait to the Cassowary Coast.
Some doctors have refused to use the program because of its “substantial safety risks” to patients.
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https://wildhealth.net.au/my-health-records-next-unveiling/
14 July 2021
My Health Record’s next unveiling
By Holly Payne
My Health Record is set to get yet another makeover, as the Australian Digital Health Agency awards a lucrative contract to Deloitte, extends its contract with Accenture and releases a request for tender for a digital-native app.
And all in the space of a week.
The Deloitte contract, worth just under $18 million, covers the provision of a new health application programming interface (API) gateway to replace the current My Health Record Gateway.
While details on the day-to-day functioning of the new gateway were still unclear – unsurprising, given the contact was awarded early last week – a spokesperson for ADHA told Wild Health that it would help create a “more integrated digital health landscape”.
“Once the API Gateway is established, it will be a single point of access into the MHR system and other digital health products and services over time,” they said.
“Deloitte will build, operate and manage the Health API Gateway in partnership with the agency.”
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Costly, clunky EPAS electronic medical records system in South Australia replaced by rebranded revision
EPAS electronic medical record system introduced to South Australia in 2013 claimed to cut medication error, by replacing use of paper (left), “from one in 20 to one in 3,000”.
The South Australian government’s SA Health department in 2020 was given nearly $200 million towards a rollout of the long-delayed Allscripts Sunrise electronic medical record (EMR) and patient administration system (PAS) across the state by 2022.
Allscripts Sunrise electronic medical record and patient administration system underpinned the EPAS system introduced by the previous Labor state government in 2013. The Liberal state government, elected in 2018, introduced a rollout of a rebranded and revised EPAS after a 2019-20 trial of the systems at Royal Adelaide Hospital and Mount Gambier and District Health Service.
The EPAS (Enterprise Patient Administration System) was introduced in 2013 as part of the Labor state government's ambitious plans to develop an electronic medical record to be used in hospitals and other health services and accessed by doctors, nurses and paramedics. Replacing paper records was claimed to have cut medication errors “from one in 20 to one in 3,000”.
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Half of Australian hospitals expected to have electronic medication management systems in place by 2026, according to pharmacy report
Adam Ang | 14 Jul 2021
The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia has released its first-ever Pharmacy Forecast Australia 2021, which takes after the annual Pharmacy Forecast report by the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists.
The organisation conducted surveys with select individuals as "forecast panellists" who held senior positions either as a director or a chief of Pharmacy; had over a decade of experience; and came mostly from the public sector.
A section of the report disclosed findings from a survey concerning the "electronic revolution" in Australian pharmacies through 2026. It ultimately suggested that pharmacists must be "intimately involved" in ensuring that technologies will "emphasise the continuity of care and maintain data integrity".
KEY FINDINGS
Over half of the respondents said specialised health informatics pharmacists will drive clinical patient safety in 75% of hospitals. A health informatics specialist has an "in-depth knowledge of the functionality of multiple systems to extract relevant data." They also design strategies for systems enhancement or medication safety solutions.
About 56% of respondents believed that half of the Australian hospitals will have electronic medication management (EMM) systems over the next five years. Last year, around three in 10 hospitals – mostly in New South Wales and Queensland – have adopted EMM systems. Its uptake is influenced by factors such as the desire to incorporate the system to avoid having a hybrid medical record which poses inherent risks.
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https://www.healthcareit.com.au/article/over-12m-e-prescriptions-issued-australia-says-adha
Over 12M e-prescriptions issued in Australia, says ADHA
Adam Ang | 16 Jul 2021
While the federal government is not mandating clinicians across Australia to issue electronic prescriptions, its issuance has gone above 12 million, according to the Australian Digital Health Agency.
WHY IT MATTERS
As Australian patients have the option to forward their e-prescriptions to local pharmacies or use consumer medication management apps, e-prescriptions proved to be "especially convenient under [the] COVID-19 lockdown", ADHA CEO Amanda Cattermole said in a media release.
E-prescriptions, she said, provide a "safer, faster and more efficient supply of prescriptions to Australians".
Cattermole noted that over 22,000 prescribers in the country are sending out e-prescriptions to patients and at least 98% of all community pharmacies are dispensing them.
THE LARGER CONTEXT
In its statement, the ADHA reminded citizens of Sydney that they can ask for digital prescriptions from their doctors while the city is undergoing an extended lockdown from mid-June to end-July. The new COVID-19 outbreak in the state of New South Wales that has seen 900 people infected was attributed to the entry of the Delta variant that was first identified in India.
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National digital health gateway one step closer as tech provider appointed
Katrina Condie12 July 2021
Australia’s new Health Information Gateway has taken a leap forward with the contract awarded to deliver the first phase of an improved national digital health platform.
The Australian Digital Health Agency has contracted Deloitte Consulting to deliver technology that will provide a secure network for exchanging and accessing health information, including vaccinations and aged care data.
The new gateway will unlock the agency’s ability to deploy and manage additional health information repositories and health data exchanges in support of national priorities for healthcare delivery and digitising government services, now and into the future.
It will provide improved support for the integration of health information from multiple sources into clinical information systems.
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New Manage My Care App to support patients to manage their WA health outpatient appointments
14 Jul 2021
New app to support patients to manage their WA health outpatient appointments
The Manage My Care app and web portal supports patients and carers to manage their WA Health outpatient appointments and referrals, Patients can be less reliant on receiving posted appointment letters, and can access routine information and update their personal details at a time convenient to them.
Manage My Care can be downloaded from the App Store, Google Play, or accessed by visiting the Healthy WA website.
It is currently available for outpatient appointments at the following sites, and preliminary work is underway to roll-out across further sites.
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https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/7339224/imaging-plus-gets-a-new-health-partnership/
July 14 2021 - 10:00AM
Imaging Plus in Burnie now partnering with My Health Record
Meg Whitfield
Burnie's recently opened 3D-ultrasound clinic is continuing to spread its wings to ease the load on local health practices, offering patients the chance to connect with My Health Record.
Imaging Plus owner Jarrod French said having this relationship with the Australian Digital Health Agency, who manage My Health Record, would enable a smoother experience for his patients.
"As well as sending reports to the referring doctor, the copy of the report shared with My Health Record will assist other clinicians who may be involved in the patients' care, wherever they travel," Mr French said.
Australian Digital Health Agency CEO Amanda Cattermole said this partnership with the medical practice would allow people to access their records when and where they need them.
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https://www.miragenews.com/my-health-record-continues-to-grow-with-595201/
4 Jul 2021 8:08 am AEST
My Health Record continues to grow with addition of new ultrasound practice uploads
Australian Digital Health Agency
Patients in Tasmania’s north west can now access ultrasound reports in My Health Record following the connection of Imaging Plus, a new practice in Burnie.
Practice owner and sonographer Jarrod French said he was pleased to offer people access to their reports in My Health Record.
“As well as sending reports to the referring doctor, the copy of the report shared with My Health Record will assist other clinicians who may be involved in my patients’ care, wherever they travel,” Mr French said.
Amanda Cattermole, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Digital Health Agency, welcomed the connection of Imaging Plus to My Health Record.
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https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/apac/tasmanian-government-engages-kpmg-digital-health-strategy
Tasmanian government engages KPMG for digital health strategy
The professional services provider will gauge the island state's difficulties in implementing digital health.
By Adam Ang
July 14, 2021 02:32 AM
The state government of Tasmania has tapped professional services firm KPMG Australia to help develop its digital health strategy; it has set aside A$1.5 million ($1.12 million) for this purpose.
WHY IT MATTERS
In a statement, Tasmanian Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said KPMG will bring a "broad range of skills" for the development of the island state's digital health strategy. The former will set up a Tasmania-based team to see firsthand the "unique" challenges in implementing digital health there. KPMG's digital health specialists from across Australia will also share best practices being employed nationwide and overseas that Tasmania can learn from.
"More information will be available in coming months as we progress this important project for the future of health information and services in Tasmania," Minister Rockliff said.
The government expects to see the future implementation of digital health services and technologies, such as telehealth and electronic referrals from general practice to specialists.
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Australia permits longer telephone consults in COVID-19 hotspots
Adam Ang | 16 Jul 2021
The Australian government has made available two new subsidised telephone consult services for patients living in COVID-19 hotspot areas.
In a statement on Thursday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said the new Medicare items will enable doctors to provide 20 minutes or more of telephone consultations.
WHY IT MATTERS
The move is in response to the growing COVID-19 cases in New South Wales, especially in Sydney which was recently placed under an extended lockdown until end-July. Over 900 people were infected since a new outbreak was announced in mid-June.
"The latest COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney has demonstrated consultations with GPs via the telephone remains critical for patient safety and access during lockdowns," said Dr Omar Khorshid, president of the Australian Medical Association, in a separate statement.
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Government adds more telehealth services as lockdowns continue across Australia
In the same week it decided to scrap the contentious 'robo-assessments' from the NDIS, the federal government has also expanded telehealth as Australians in Sydney and Melbourne continue lockdown life.
By Asha Barbaschow | July 16, 2021 -- 01:27 GMT (11:27 AEST) | Topic: Innovation
The federal government has announced extending telehealth consultations for Australians in COVID-19 hotspots from Friday.
Two new Medicare telephone items will be available for GPs and other medical practitioner services for patients living in hotspots as declared by the chief medical officer. The new items will enable doctors to provide longer telephone consultations, lasting 20 minutes or more.
"The move is in response to the current COVID-19 situation in NSW and the prospect of a prolonged hotspot declaration in Greater Sydney," a statement from Minister for Health Greg Hunt said.
"Telehealth has played an important role in supporting Australians through the pandemic and these new items mean Australians can continue to see their GP, renew scripts, and seek mental health support from the safety of their own home."
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https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/longer-telehealth-consultations-reinstated-in-covi
Longer telehealth consultations reinstated in COVID hotspots
Patients in Commonwealth-declared hotspot areas will again be able to access extended telephone consultations with their GP, following the announcement of a new dedicated MBS item number.
This story was updtated at 12.10 pm on
Friday 16 July to include more information on the newly-created MBS item 92746.
Jolyon
Attwooll
15 Jul 2021
At a press conference on Thursday, Prime Minster Scott
Morrison said Medicare-supported telephone consultations lasting more than 20
minutes will return to COVID-19 hotspots recognised by the Commonwealth.
‘We will be restoring the temporary Medicare telehealth system,’ Prime Minister
Morrison said.
‘That means there will be a
new Medicare item [92746] reintroduced to ensure people in COVID-19
hotspots … have access to longer phone consultations for chronic conditions or
other health issues that may require doctors to spend more time with patients.’
The Prime Minister said the re-introduction was done on the recommendation of
the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.
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https://medicalrepublic.com.au/ring-ring-telehealth-cuts-reversed-for-lockdown/49001
15 July 2021
Ring ring! Telehealth cuts reversed for lockdown
By Holly Payne
Longer phone consults will again be rebatable through Medicare in a temporary measure during Sydney’s lockdown, Scott Morrison confirmed today.
Specifically, level C phone consults, which last more than 20 minutes, will be back on the MBS.
This item was only cut two weeks ago, which coincided with the beginning of Sydney’s outbreak.
“We will be restoring the temporary Medicare telehealth system, and that means there will be an MBS item reintroduced to ensure people in covid-19 hotspots – that is, the entire greater Sydney area – have access to longer phone consultations – that’s 20 minutes or over – for chronic conditions or other health conditions that may require doctors to spend more time with patients,” the Prime Minister said at a press conference.
“That’s an effective measure which we’ve had in place previously.”
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/ramsay-health-care-cio-jumps-to-hammondcare-567150
Ramsay Health Care CIO jumps to HammondCare
By Justin Hendry on Jul 9, 2021 3:52PM
John Sutherland joins aged care operator.
National aged care provider HammondCare has named John Sutherland as its new chief information officer after Jose Perez stepped down earlier this year.
Sutherland will join the not-for-profit next month from ASX-listed global hospital group Ramsay Health Care, where he has spent almost seven years as CIO.
He previously spent 12 years at hearing implant maker Cochlear, including six as CIO, and has also worked as an Oracle specialist at Vodafone, Optus, Boral and Coles.
Hammondcare CEO and former NSW premier Mike Baird welcomed Sutherland to the charity as it continues to bolster IT investment in support of health and aged care services.
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Aussie researchers using biosensors to investigate ALS diagnosis and treatment
Researchers from GenieUS and University of Sydney plan to employ biosensors to detect TDP-43, a protein that is commonly linked to the development of ALS.
By Aimee Chanthadavong | July 15, 2021 -- 22:00 GMT (08:00 AEST) | Topic: Innovation
Research is currently being undertaken by biotech company GenieUs together with the University of Sydney to examine how biosensors could potentially improve the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Part of carrying out the research involves employing an amperometric biosensor to detect TDP-43, a protein that is commonly linked to the development of ALS.
"The reason we wanted to do this is because there are very few handles to hold on to for ALS; it's a really heterogenous disease in terms of clinical presentation and the molecular pathways that are involved," GenieUS research associate Sam Brennan told ZDNet.
"Luckily, we do have TDP-43 as one common element in all types of ALS … and what it is, is a protein that becomes stuck together or aggregated in various confirmations.
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Accenture wins $57m My Health Record contract extension
Edmund Tadros Professional services editor
Jul 12, 2021 – 11.32am
Accenture has won a one-year extension to its My Health Record System management contract with the Australian Digital Health Agency. The total value of the contract is now $57 million higher. The consulting firm has operated the My Health Record System on behalf of the agency since 2012.
KPMG will provide unspecified professional services to the Australian Signals Directorate as part of a two-year contract worth $9.5 million.
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Accenture paid another $57m to support My Health Record until 2022
By Justin Hendry on Jul 13, 2021 6:45AM
Extension brings decade-long deal to just under $630m.
The federal government has handed Accenture a further $57 million to support the My Health Record for another year while its massive national infrastructure modernisation program continues.
It brings the total cost of the national infrastructure operator (NIO) deal with the tech giant to $629.5 million over 10 years.
The Australian Digital Health Agency revealed the cost of the revised contract late last week, just days after confirming it had extended the deal until at least July 2022.
Accenture has held the lucrative NIO contract for the design, build and integration of the system since 2011, when it was known as the personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR).
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https://www.itwire.com/telecoms-and-nbn/nbn-co-awards-contracts-for-fttp-upgrades.html
Thursday, 15 July 2021 16:38
NBN Co awards contracts for FTTP upgrades
NBN Co has awarded around $1.1 million worth of construction contracts as part of the $2.9 billion plan to upgrade large parts of the fibre to the node (FTTN) network to fibre to the premises (FTTP).
Four contracts were awarded to Downer Group, Fulton Hogan Utilities, Lendlease Services and Ventia (through its Visionstream subsidiary).
Work in New South Wales will be carried out by Downer, Lendlease and Ventia, in Victoria and Queensland by Lendlease and Venitia, in the ACT by Lendlease, in South Australia by Fulton Hogan, and in Western Australia by Downer and Fulton Hogan. (Upgrades in Tasmania and the Northern Territory come under existing contracts.)
These contracts are expected to lead to the creation of up to 10,000 jobs in a range of roles.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/labor-calls-for-audit-of-nbn-co-executive-bonuses-567411
Labor calls for audit of NBN Co executive bonuses
By Ry Crozier on Jul 15, 2021 1:39PM
Queries relationship between payouts and financial performance.
Labor is urging the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) to scrutinise millions of dollars in at-risk payments made to NBN Co executives last financial year.
NBN Co made almost $78 million in at-risk payments - what Labor terms “bonuses” - to 3800 staff last financial year.
The breakdown on payments was secured by Labor using parliamentary processes back in May.
Labor has now written to the ANAO seeking “an audit of NBN Co executive bonuses for the 2019-2020 financial year and the legitimacy of the underlying targets to which the bonuses were linked.”
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-contracts-out-11bn-of-fttn-overbuild-work-567317
NBN Co contracts out $1.1bn of FTTN overbuild work
By Ry Crozier on Jul 14, 2021 10:12AM
Under $3bn program.
NBN Co is starting to contract out the overbuild of parts of the fibre-to-the-node network with full fibre, with four construction partners brought in to perform the work.
Four construction partners - Downer Group, Fulton Hogan Utilities, Lendlease Services and Ventia-owned Visionstream Australia - will handle over a billion dollars of work under what NBN Co is calling ‘the N2P Evolution’.
This refers to a plan to overbuild half of the FTTN network with fibre at a cost of almost $3 billion.
Ventia was first to disclose Visionstream's deal yesterday, noting it had picked up $400 million of work.
Visionstream’s work runs over 2.5 years, “subject to work orders and volumes”, and covers Queensland, NSW and Victoria. The first work is set to occur “immediately”.
“We were instrumental in the delivery of the initial NBN build program and the subsequent maintenance of the NBN over the past decade, and we are looking forward to delivering this new program of work,” Ventia Group’s executive of telecommunications Tim Harwood said.
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https://www.itwire.com/telecoms-and-nbn/editorial-does-the-nbn-understand-its-purpose.html
Friday, 09 July 2021 12:54
Editorial - Does the NBN understand its purpose?
I regularly find that a clear understanding of purpose provides a great anchor for decision making.
My last corporate role was managing a team of senior product development engineers, in NBN, developing business solutions for new initiatives, like FTTC. The activity was always better informed if the purpose and desired business outcome was well stated and measurable.
But does the NBN understand its purpose, or has the Government ill informed the NBN of its purpose?
I believe that like any Government funded infrastructure project the NBN purpose should be to drive economic growth; the NBN should be an economic multiplier. For every dollar invested in the NBN the Government should be looking for the return to be in economic growth, not necessarily in the NBN business.
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Enjoy!
David.
