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This weekly blog is to explore the news around the larger issues around Digital Health, data security, data privacy, AI / ML. technology, social media and related matters.
I will also try to highlight ADHA Propaganda when I come upon it.
Just so we keep count, the latest Notes from the ADHA Board were dated 6 December, 2018 and we have seen none since! Its pretty sad!
Note: Appearance here is not to suggest I see any credibility or value in what follows. I will leave it to the reader to decide what is worthwhile and what is not! The point is to let people know what is being said / published that I have come upon.
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https://marketplace.service.gov.au/2/digital-marketplace/opportunities/16993
Australian Digital Health Agency
Test Manager
Opportunity ID 16993
Deadline for asking questions Wednesday 3 November 2021 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Application closing date Friday 5 November 2021 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Published Friday 29 October 2021
Category
Agile delivery and Governance
Overview
Reporting to the Project Manager, My Health App project, the Test Manager will be responsible for the delivery of User Acceptance Test (UAT) and Business Verification Test (BVT), as well as provide assurance of testing services, including functional and system integration testing, performed by the 3rd party delivery provider. This role will undertake work that is complex, operate under broad direction and exercise a considerable degree of independence. • Develop test strategy, test plans, status reports and test closure reports. • Facilitate development and execution of test cases for UAT & BVT. • Manage issues and defects observed during UAT & BVT. • Review third party test coverage and execution results, and execution rates against plans. • Coordinate with, and provide regular status updates to the Project Manager.
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https://www.innovationaus.com/govt-has-another-go-at-criminalising-data-re-identification/
Govt has another go at criminalising data re-identification
Denham
Sadler
National Affairs Editor
27 October 2021
The federal government will again attempt to pass legislation criminalising the illegitimate re-identification of public sector data sets, despite its attempt to do this five years ago stalling due to concerns it could lead to the jailing of researchers.
The discussion paper for the broad-ranging review of the Privacy Act includes a proposal that the controversial Re-Identification Offence Bill be re-introduced to Parliament with amendments.
The bill, first tabled in 2016, introduces new civil and criminal penalties for individuals or companies who re-identified data that has been de-identified and released by public sector organisations.
The legislation included exemptions for government agencies and their service providers, but drew the ire of the research community and privacy advocates, who argued the government should instead better ensure the security of the data they release, and that the new penalties would deter public interest research.
The legislation stalled after Labor and the Greens signaled their opposition to it, saying it was “disproportionate”, and it lapsed in 2019.
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Age verification will be mandatory for social under govt tech crackdown
Denham
Sadler
National Affairs Editor
25 October 2021
The federal government has unveiled “landmark privacy legislation” which will increase penalties for breaches of privacy by social media firms and require a wide range of tech firms to verify the age of their users and obtain parental consent for users aged under 16.
Many elements of the draft legislation, unveiled by Attorney-General Michaelia Cash on Monday morning, were first announced by the federal government nearly three years ago.
The draft Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Online Privacy and Other Measures) bill, increases the maximum penalty for a data breach significantly and also gives the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) further enforcement powers.
The bill also lays the groundwork for a binding Online Privacy code, to be developed by industry and apply to a wide swathe of tech firms, including the likes of Facebook, Google, Reddit, Bumble and OnlyFans.
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https://digitalhealth.org.au/blog/digital-health-and-gender-diversity-survey/
Digital health and gender diversity survey
Oct 26, 2021 | AIDH news, Surveys
Do you work in Australia’s digital health sector? We want to hear about your experiences! Complete the ‘Understanding gender diversity in digital health survey’ by Friday 3 December.
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) has joined with Telstra Health, the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC) and CSIRO’s Australian e-Health Research Centre to launch the first survey of its kind in understanding gender diversity in Australia’s digital health sector.
In its inaugural year, this survey sets out to understand the current state of gender diversity, career progression and equity within digital health, and to be reflective of all perspectives – both men and women who work in the sector.
There is a lack of research and data in understanding this issue, both in Australia and internationally. So, with the intention to run the survey annually, the first set of findings will set the benchmark for future iterations of the survey to build upon, as well as inform what actions are needed to create change and achieve progress for gender equity and career advancement in digital health.
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Home Affairs in talks to give telcos more blocking powers against malicious messages
At Senate Estimates, Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo reiterated his department would be more aggressive in addressing cyber threats.
By Campbell Kwan | October 26, 2021 | Topic: Security
The Department of Home Affairs is in talks with the telecommunications industry to provide more powers to telcos for blocking spam and malicious content.
"We are in discussion with the telcos that provide your services … under the Telecommunications Act, section 313, there might be a possibility for the telcos to act as an authorised blocking agent -- that is to say, it's unwanted, I don't want this to come to my computer, I don't want this to come to my phone. It's malicious," Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo told Senate Estimates on Monday evening.
Pezzullo noted that more work needed to be done in this area, however, as it is currently unclear whether the Telecommunications Act deems providing a link to be an offence or whether the offence is actually the subsequent action taken by a criminal actor of taking advantage of a victim after they've clicked on a malicious link.
"There are some complexities here because it has to be a nexus to an offence. So scamming, click this link, may itself not be an offence, in which case, our advice to government in due course might well be that legislative changes are required. But the act of clicking might create a nexus to an offence, that offence might be identity, theft, fraud, etc," Pezzullo said.
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Facebook needs to do more than change its name to Meta
9:29AM October 29, 2021
Social media behemoth Facebook will need to do much more than change its name if it’s to win back the trust of its users – and regulators – with some major soul searching needed after years of scandals and abuses of customer loyalty.
Facebook on Friday announced a name change to Meta – a signal that it wants to focus on the future, rather than its chequered past.
But despite all the tech demos, the hype and buzzwords – and there were a lot of them – we have little reason to take Facebook at its word that the changes will amount to anything beyond the surface-level.
To date, the company and its top leadership haven’t yet demonstrated that they grasp or appreciate the sheer scale of their responsibilities, or the degree to which they’ve repeatedly failed to meet them.
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https://marketplace.service.gov.au/2/digital-marketplace/opportunities/16769
Australian Digital Health Agency
2 x Digital Health Educator (eLearning)
Opportunity ID 16769
Deadline for asking questions Monday 1 November 2021 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Application closing date Wednesday 3 November 2021 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Published Wednesday 27 October 2021
Category Training, Learning and Development
Overview
The Digital Health Educator will be responsible for the development of the Agency’s online learning resources and maintenance of the Agency Learning Management System. Key responsibilities include: • Design, develop and implement effective, flexible and innovative eLearning modules, animation videos, screen capture videos, webinars, instructional manuals, digital content and other digital solutions to build capability within the healthcare workforce • Consult with subject matter experts and stakeholders across the organisation to develop eLearning • Input relevant content into engaging eLearning storyboards • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with subject matter experts and stakeholders to provide a high level of service and advice • Provide advice on the creation of education materials • Assist with the maintenance of the Agency Learning Management System • Participate in the review process for eLearning • Project management support and coordination • Other duties as directed. Liaise within and across Education and Adoption team to ensure: • Production of high-quality education resources that draws upon the skill, knowledge and experience of all team members • No duplication of effort • Consistency of standards and messaging • Knowledge sharing • Cross-team upskilling
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A new proposed privacy code promises tough rules and $10 million penalties for tech giants
October 27, 2021 3.22pm AEDT
Authors
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW, UNSW
Professor of Law and Information Systems, UNSW
This week the federal government announced proposed legislation to develop an online privacy code (or “OP Code”) setting tougher privacy standards for Facebook, Google, Amazon and many other online platforms.
These companies collect and use vast amounts of consumers’ personal data, much of it without their knowledge or real consent, and the code is intended to guard against privacy harms from these practices.
The higher standards would be backed by increased penalties for interference with privacy under the Privacy Act and greater enforcement powers for the federal privacy commissioner. Serious or repeated breaches of the code could carry penalties of up to A$10 million or 10% of turnover for companies.
However, relevant companies are likely to try to avoid obligations under the OP Code by drawing out the process for drafting and registering the code. They are also likely to try to exclude themselves from the code’s coverage, and argue about the definition of “personal information”.
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Connecting Care in Victoria
Bronwyn Taylor
HIMAA 2021 National Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OkGpCVHm1A
What is Victoria up to with state-wide EHR System?
Note: Link no longer works as they have made presentation secret!
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ADHA
Dear Valued Industry Partner,
The Australian Digital Health Agency is offering healthcare software developers financial assistance to design new or enhanced My Health Record–related functionality in clinical information systems and electronic medications management systems used by residential aged care facilities.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety released their Final Report on 1 March 2021 containing 148 recommendations. Recommendation 68 specifically refers to the Agency’s support for universal adoption by the aged care sector of digital technology and My Health Record.
The Agency has been working with healthcare professionals who interact with aged care sector, and the Industry Offer is the first part of a work program to ensure residential aged care facilities have the ability to adopt and interact with My Health Record and use digital technologies more broadly.
The offer is targeted at software developers whose Clinical Information Systems and/or electronic Medication Management Systems are currently used by residential aged care facilities in Australia.
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The government wants to expand the ‘digital identity’ system that lets Australians access services. There are many potential pitfalls
October 26, 2021 5.01pm AEDT
Author
Researcher / PhD Candidate, RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub / Digital Ethnography Research Centre, RMIT University
The federal government has been asking the public for feedback on proposed legislation to create a “trusted digital identity” system. The aim is for Australians to use it to prove their identity when accessing public services.
I first found out about the draft Trusted Digital Identity Bill not through my research at the intersection of society and technology, but through my mother-in-law. She found out about it in private social media channels, and her local women’s group was seeking support to craft their feedback, which emphasises concern for privacy and civil liberties in Australia.
After asking around among major stakeholders, it seems this piece of legislation has largely slipped under the radar since it was unveiled on October 1.
But what will a national digital identity system actually involve, who will it serve, and if we need it, how should it be implemented?
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Online privacy code for Big Tech
5:24PM October 25, 2021
Social media giants will be “punished heavily” if they don’t give primary consideration to the best interests of children when handling personal information under draft legislation released by the Morrison government.
But critics of Big Tech have warned the social media media giants should not be involved in the drafting of the code, saying it had the potential to “dramatically reshape children’s experiences in the digital world for the better”. The release of the Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Online Privacy and Other Measures) Bill 2021 by Attorney-General Michaelia Cash will enable the creation of an online privacy code for social media services, data brokers and other online platforms in Australia.
Digital entities like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be required to comply with new privacy requirements. This includes stronger protections for children using social media, requiring social media platforms to take “all reasonable steps” to verify a users’ age, while giving primary consideration to the best interests of the child when handling children’s personal information.
Rys Farthing, director of data policy at Reset Australia – a lobby group dedicated to ‘‘countering digital threats to democracy’’ – warned that the proposed code should not be written by industry. If done correctly, the code could immensely improve children’s digital experience, he said.
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Monday, 25 October 2021 17:02
Government proposes stricter privacy rules for social media
The Federal Government has proposed stricter rules for social media services, data brokers and other large online platforms operating in Australia.
The government has given industry first option to draft the code, failing which it will take on the task itself.
Attorney-General Michaelia Cash on Monday released an exposure draft of the Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Online Privacy and Other Measures) Bill 2021.
It would lead to creation of a binding Online Privacy code. Platforms covered by the code would need to have stronger protections for children on social media, and take all reasonable steps to verify their users' age.
The platforms will also have to put the child first when handling children's personal information. Parental consent will be required for users under the age of 16.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/discharge-summaries-riddled-alarming-abbreviations-study-reveals
Discharge summaries riddled with 'alarming' abbreviations, study reveals
On average the letters contain 17 abbreviations, most of which mean different things to different doctors, shows Australian research
25th October 2021
For any GP who has puzzled over a hospital discharge summary, Aussie findings reveal they contain dozens of abbreviations that can be interpreted in an “alarming” number of ways.
On average, a patient discharge summary has 17 different abbreviations, with one notable example containing 86 short forms, according to Queensland researchers.
Not only were hospital summaries riddled with abbreviations, but they meant different things to the more than 300 doctors in the study.
While most doctors agreed that Hb meant ‘haemoglobin’ and IV meant ‘intravenous’, GPs and junior doctors provided 32 different versions of what the letters LC might mean.
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22 October 2021
Resistance is futile: How covid is ripping the band-aid off virtual cardiac rehabilitation
Clinical Cloud COVID-19 Technology
Covid has forced a somewhat recalcitrant healthcare sector into understanding and accepting a lot more sophisticated digital health delivery than the simple utility that is telehealth.
For medical futurist and doctor Bertalan Meskó, covid must have been something like getting access to a time machine.
“The reason why [digital health] hasn’t been implemented yet is purely human,” he explained in November last year.
“It’s rooted in the belief that change can be stopped. Well, 2020 made it obvious that it can’t.
“It’s the three R’s of healthcare gatekeeping: Rejection by individual medical professionals, good Regulations that are lacking, and the Resistance within the existing healthcare system, which is rooted in the belief that change can be stopped. Well, 2020 made it obvious that it can’t.”
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https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2021/40/telehealth-sustaining-video-conferencing-in-covid-19-normal/
Telehealth: sustaining video conferencing in “COVID-19-normal”
Jeetendra Mathur Sandeep Reddy
THE COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on various societal levels but has also led to concerns about the quality and safety of patient care being delivered. Further, it has led to decreased access and use of health care services, particularly primary care services.
To address the decreasing in-person consultations and improve safety for health care practitioners and patients, telehealth — an approach to delivering health care at a distance — emerged as a remarkably important and valuable tool. Telehealth allowed for timely access to care and supported efforts to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by reducing in-person contacts at health clinics.
Telehealth is not new for Australian health care, it has existed for decades. However, uptake before the COVID-19 pandemic was generally low due to limited funding support. Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for telehealth were previously available only to specialists providing care to patients in rural areas. GP telehealth consultations were not eligible for Medicare and, therefore, were not eligible to receive any payment
With the advent of COVID-19, the situation has changed. In response to restriction of movement during the pandemic, the Australian Government announced changes to MBS items to support the use of telehealth-based care. Temporary Medicare items for telehealth consultations, for both audio and video, were introduced so they can be used by allied health, GPs, nurse practitioners, and other specialists. As a result, between 13 March 2020 and 6 May 2021, more than 83 800 providers used telehealth services, and 57.5 million COVID-19 MBS telehealth services were delivered to 13.7 million patients, with $2.9 billion in Medicare benefits paid. As per a survey by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners of 1782 GP Fellows, compared with the same period in 2019, there was a dramatic increase in the number of telehealth services in 2020 and 2021. For example, 97% of the GP respondents provided telehealth care compared with just 15% before the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, in the same survey, 67% of GPs reported a positive attitude towards the use of telehealth, with 89% of them citing “The MBS items now support me to use telehealth” as the most common reason behind the positive attitude towards telehealth.
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https://www.itwire.com/guest-articles/guest-opinion/how-data-can-better-support-mental-health.html
How data can better support mental health
GUEST OPINION: Mental health issues were growing at an alarming rate before COVID-19, with one in five Australians experiencing a mental or behavioural disorder in any given year. The pandemic has accelerated this trend and made it harder for already stretched mental health services to deal with demand.
Mental health hospitalisations among children have increased substantially during the pandemic, while mental health distress levels have doubled for young workers. While this data is startling, a lack of data is one of the key issues in the gaps we have in mental healthcare, much more-so than other chronic and acute healthcare issues.
Improving our data on mental health is made harder by the fact that those suffering seek help from a range of services that are not necessarily interconnected, creating a fragmented record of their care.
From a data gathering perspective, many people suffering with mental health issues are hesitant to come forward. Incomplete data makes it difficult to identify the true extent of mental health issues.
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David.
