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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! It’s 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://www.innovationaus.com/cdr-benefits-will-be-worth-the-five-year-wait-hume/
CDR benefits will be worth the five-year wait: Hume
Joseph
Brookes
Senior Reporter
24 February 2022
Consumers will begin to see benefits of Australia’s data portability by next year after a half-decade “build phase”, according to Minister for Financial Services and the Digital Economy Jane Hume.
In an address to Committee for Economic Development of Australia on Thursday, Ms Hume flagged next financial year as the point Australian consumers will experience “tangible benefits” from the Consumer Data Right (CDR).
Banking product comparisons and switching will be easier next year, she said, because of a switch from the current passive CDR system to a more active one where providers can take actions on behalf of consumers.
The change is the key recommendation from an extensive inquiry into the future directions of CDR, completed in October 2020 but not endorsed by the federal government until more than a year later.
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https://www.innovationaus.com/digital-identity-legislation-missing-in-action/
Digital identity legislation missing in action
Denham
Sadler
National Affairs Editor
21 February 2022
Australia’s digital identity scheme is unlikely to be legislated before the election after the federal government missed its own deadline to introduce a bill rolling out privacy protections and expanding the program to the private sector.
This is despite the digital identity scheme having been in the works for more than six years at an expected cost of $450 million, and the Coalition beginning consultations on the legislation to underpin it in late 2020. It had planned to introduce the bill during the Spring sittings last year but did not do so.
The government also failed to introduce or debate the digital identity legislation in Parliament this week. There are now only three sitting days left before the likely May election, and these are set aside to deal with the Budget.
Despite these setbacks and delays, the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA), which is leading the development of the legislation, was recently appointed as chair of a global working group on digital identity.
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https://digitalhealth.org.au/blog/and-just-like-that-aidh-turns-two/
And just like that AIDH turns two
Feb 24, 2022 | AIDH news,
Happy birthday AIDH!
Feb 24 is an important day for the institute as we celebrate our second anniversary. We made it through the pandemic and have come out the other side with a thriving digital health community ready to take on the significant opportunities and challenges in the near future.
In 2019, with shared strategies for workforce capacity building and the recognition of health informatics as a profession, the ACHI Council and the HISA Board agreed more could be achieved for the benefit of Australian healthcare by uniting to form a new organisation, and the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) was born.
Over the past two years the Institute has launched the Women in Digital Health Leadership Program, formed InGeNA, launched a new executive pathway to fellowship and continued to advocate for the digital health workforce, and there is plenty still to come.
Thank you to all our fabulous members, the AIDH Board and the digital health community for supporting our work, and we look forward to continued advocacy and development of the digital health workforce. We have big plans for the next few years and hope you will come along with us.
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https://www.afr.com/world/europe/welcome-to-world-war-wired-20220226-p59zx6
Welcome to World War Wired
Thomas L. Friedman
Feb 26, 2022 – 1.16pm
The seven most dangerous words in journalism are: “The world will never be the same.” In over four decades of reporting, I have rarely dared use that phrase. But I’m going there now in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Our world is not going to be the same again because this war has no historical parallel. It is a raw, 18th-century-style land grab by a superpower — but in a 21st-century globalised world. This is the first war that will be covered on TikTok by super-empowered individuals armed only with smartphones, so acts of brutality will be documented and broadcast worldwide without any editors or filters. On the first day of the war, we saw invading Russian tank units unexpectedly being exposed by Google maps, because Google wanted to alert drivers that the Russian armor was causing traffic jams.
You have never seen this play before.
Yes, the Russian attempt to seize Ukraine is a throwback to earlier centuries — before the democracy revolutions in America and France — when a European monarch or Russian czar could simply decide that he wanted more territory, that the time was ripe to grab it, and so he did. And everyone in the region knew he would devour as much as he could and there was no global community to stop him.
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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/senior-test-manager
Senior Test Manager
EL1
($125,047 - $142,618)
Digital
Strategy Division > Info/Comm Tech (ICT)
Brisbane,
Canberra, Sydney
Closing - 28 Feb 2022
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 Senior Test Manager is responsible for leading, managing and optimising the product testing and test assurance functions within the Conformance and Assurance section, Clinical and Digital Health Standards Governance branch.
Reporting to the Director, Conformance and Assurance under broad direction, the Senior Test Manager exercises a considerable degree of independence managing a team to perform complex work and service delivery. They are required to engage in complex problem solving and issues management, applying sound decision making and judgement. They are required to manage a team that will undertake detailed complex work contributing critical elements to projects that impact on strategic, and operational outcomes for the agency. The Senior Test Manager is responsible for actively managing key stakeholder relationships within and outside the agency.
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https://wildhealth.net.au/youre-doing-digital-health-wrong/
17 February 2022
You’re doing digital health wrong
Sponsored
When retinal specialist, Dr Devinder Chauhan, realised 3 years ago that there was a huge variation in the care provided by retinal clinics, he decided there had to be a better way.
And he was right.
He decided to tackle this issue by building a clinical assessment tool that utilised Machine Learning and Neural networks to guide clinical decision making.
The result? Even the most experienced clinicians are empowered to provide increased levels of care with AI technology providing a handy guard rail against interpretation and time pressure constraints.
Now, Dr Chauhan’s company, Macuject, is helping to prevent blindness in millions of people every year by guiding doctors and patients to personalised treatment strategies throughout their life-long eye injection journey.
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https://wildhealth.net.au/hot-headlines-from-the-digital-health-institute-summit-2022/
25 February 2022
Hot headlines from the Digital Health Institute Summit 2022
The Digital Health Institute Summit 2022 put the spotlight on virtual healthcare this week as over 700 delegates revelled in catching up face-to-face at last.
Queensland Health revealed its new virtual health strategy at the summit and themes of data exchange and patient-centred care underpinned many key sessions and posters.
The strategy, unveiled by Damian Green, deputy director general of eHealth Queensland, aims to empower customers to manage their own health through virtual care models. Indigenous people and customers in rural and remote areas are a focus, alongside the establishment of a regional virtual healthcare hub.
A full-scale, full-time virtual hospital is also on its way, according to Mr Green. The business case has been completed and a funding proposal is under way, opening up opportunities for vendors.
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https://wildhealth.net.au/is-telstra-healths-new-ceo-appointment-fair-play/
25 February 2022
Is Telstra Health’s new CEO appointment fair play?
If your major digital health competitor employs the long time head of the biggest government digital health buyer in the country, don’t bother calling the NSW government for an explanation.
If the first thought that came into my head when I heard that Telstra Health had snapped up NSW Secretary of Health Elizabeth Koff was, “can Ms Koff swap out that quickly given the knowledge and contacts she’d take from her senior public service role?”, then I’m pretty sure a Telstra Health competitor, of which there are many, might have thought the same thing.
The appointment is entirely legal. Which might make it simply a very clever move on the part of Telstra Health.
And you can’t blame Telstra Health for having the idea.
Their current CEO, Mary Foley, was once NSW Secretary of Health too, and her tenure at the company has seen it go over time from basket case that everyone thought was a failed experiment of a past CEO, to be sold off to the lowest bidders, to a cohesive, competent and major digital health powerhouse, operating in most sectors, with a great growth profile.
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https://marketplace.service.gov.au/2/digital-marketplace/opportunities/19452
Australian Digital Health Agency
DH4221 Project Manager
Opportunity ID 19452
Deadline for asking questions Tuesday 1 March 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Application closing date Thursday 3 March 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Published Thursday 24 February 2022
Category Agile delivery and Governance
Additional terms
Overview
The Buyer is seeking an experienced Project Manager to assist in undertaking project activities within the Infrastructure Delivery Team, responsibilities include, but are not limited to: • Lead the planning and implementation of the Agency’s complex and high priority projects • Drive progress on deliverables with a high level of stakeholder engagement across various levels in the Agency including senior management • Coordinate internal resources and third parties/vendors for seamless execution of projects • Work with project delivery teams and assurance groups to create a detailed project plans to track progress • Create governance plans which will include but not limited to RACI, communication/reporting plans and reporting cadence • Support project delivery teams by co-ordinating meetings, agendas and secretariat • Manage changes in project scope, schedule and budget • Develop and manage relationships with stakeholders and divisions across the business to understand activities that might impact the project • Manage the identification of risks and issues and develop appropriate mitigation strategies and actions • Work with the Product Manager to understand the strategic vision, relevant goals, and how they relate to the projects • Align to the organisation’s service delivery processes, working in both waterfall and agile methodologies with focus on efficient delivery. • Work closely with all divisions to efficiently manage governance requirements. • Ensure that all projects are delivered on-time, within scope and within budget • Ensure resource availability and allocation • Ensure all projects follow an assurance process for policy, security, clinical safety, and design and included in the detailed project plans. • Adhere to the Agency Values and Code of Conduct, and other duties as directed.
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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/solutions-architect-27022022
Solutions Architect
EL1
($125,047 - $142,618)
Digital
Strategy Division > Info/Comm Tech (ICT)
Brisbane,
Canberra, Sydney
Closing - 27 Feb 2022
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 Australian Digital Health Agency is seeking candidates to fill several permanent vacancies for Executive level 1 Solution Architects. This is a unique opportunity to participate in programs and projects within a vibrant business with a high-profile national program. Work will contribute to:
- My Health Record
- Health API Gateway
- Digital Identity
- Mobile Apps
- Data and analytics
- Aged Care
- Interoperability
- National Infrastructure Modernisation
As an EL 1 Solutions Architect you will have an in-depth knowledge of the ICT strategy and architecture function and will be responsible for the development, implementation, compliance and review of policies and procedures. You will be accountable to have an in-depth knowledge of and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and ASD’s mission and policy requirements.
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Wednesday, 23 February 2022 19:37
OAIC report reveals 464 reported breaches 2H 2021, 17% from emailing PII to the wrong person
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released the latest Notifiable Data Breaches Report, covering July to December 2021. The report shows 464 data breach notifications, up 6%, with almost one in five being due to somebody emailing the wrong person.
Of the 464 notifications, 55% or 256 were due to malicious or criminal attacks, yet this is a decrease of 9% from the previous quarter.
Human error breaches have increased to 190 notifications or 41% of the total - and of those, 43% were from personally identifying information - or PII - being emailed to the wrong recipient. That’s 43% of 41% of the total, meaning over 17% of all data breaches from all sources were due to careless emails. The next highest human error cause was unauthorised disclosure.
Health service providers are the top industry reporting data breaches, followed by finance. 71% of breaches affected 100 people or fewer. However, one data breach notification affected more than one million, but fewer than 10 million people. Two notifications affected 50,001 to 100,000 people.
80% of breaches were identified in under 30 days, while 4% were not identified until a year or more had passed. 1% of data breaches could not be pinpointed as to when the breach actually occurred.
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https://marketplace.service.gov.au/2/digital-marketplace/opportunities/19366
Australian Digital Health Agency
DH4208 - 1 x Product Owner
Opportunity ID 19366
Deadline for asking questions Friday 25 February 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Application closing date Tuesday 1 March 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Published Tuesday 22 February 2022
Category Digital sourcing and ICT procurement
Overview
The EL1 IT Business Analyst is accountable under broad direction to perform very complex work that provides detailed technical and professional business analysis, system analysis, and design changes that align with the vision and strategic direction of the Agency. They will exercise a considerable degree of independence and perform a leadership role working closely with stakeholders across the Agency to gain an in-depth understanding of business processes, technical infrastructure, technical services, strategic roadmap, and in the context in which the Agency operates. The EL1 IT Business Analyst will have considerable internal and external stakeholder interaction and will act as the conduit between the business units, internal stakeholders that will include the IT business management, solutions development and solutions implementation functional teams within the Agency and with relevant stakeholders from the Health sector
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https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/proposed-changes-to-privacy-act-could-disadvantage
Proposed Privacy Act changes could disadvantage young patients
Young patients could face barriers when accessing general practice services if a new Government proposal to tighten privacy laws comes into effect.
23 Feb 2022
Sweeping
changes could be made to the Privacy Act 1988 following the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) digital platforms inquiry.
The ACCC inquiry raised a number of concerns around how digital platforms
collect, use and store consumer data.
In response to the inquiry, the Attorney-General’s Department announced at the
end of 2019 that it would conduct
a review of the Act to ensure ‘privacy settings empower consumers, protect
their data and best serve the Australian economy’.
A discussion
paper released by the department in October 2021 details 28 proposals to
tighten privacy laws, including a proposal to make it mandatory for individuals
or organisations to obtain parental consent before using, collecting or
disclosing personal information of a child aged under 16.
While the proposed changes may be justified in other sectors, the Australian
Medical Association (AMA) has made it clear it does not support some of the
changes being applied to medical practice and research, which it says has
appropriate privacy practices under existing legislation.
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ACCC to table new upfront rules for big tech platforms next week
By Staff Writer on Feb 23, 2022 12:55PM
As part of its ongoing digital platforms probe.
Australia’s competition watchdog will next week table proposed new “upfront rules” aimed at stopping ‘big tech’ companies from abusing their digital dominance and vast data holdings.
Outgoing ACCC chair Rod Sims said in a National Press Club address that he was “proud” to be “at the forefront of world efforts to identify the harms from digital platforms and potential solutions to them.”
Those efforts will continue next week with a new discussion paper to be launched that will drive a deeper crackdown on major players like Google, Meta and Apple.
While big tech companies had “innovated their way to success, they also acquired a huge array of companies that have extended their reach and cemented their power,” Sims said.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/australian-gov-data-breach-numbers-slip-out-of-public-view-576350
Australian gov data breach numbers slip out of public view
By Justin Hendry , Richard Chirgwin on Feb 22, 2022 1:26PM
In latest OAIC report.
The Australian government fell outside the top industry sectors for data breaches in the second half of 2021, despite agencies logging 28 notifications during the six-month period.
The latest notifiable data breaches report [pdf], released on Tuesday, shows there were 464 notifications in total received by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) between July and December 2021, up from 446 in the first half of the year.
Health service providers again topped the list of industry sectors with 83 notifications, followed by finance (56), legal, accounting and management (51) and personal services (36).
The health and finance sectors have topped the list in each of the reporting periods since the reporting scheme began in July 2018, while personal services last appeared in 2019.
Education and insurance reported 32 notifications each, which caused the OAIC to detail six - instead of five - industry sectors in its report for the first time.
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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/digital-health-educator
Digital Health Educator
APS6
($101,757 - $114,800)
Digital
Programs and Engagement Division > Service Delivery
Brisbane,
Canberra, Sydney
Closing - 19 Oct 2021
Division overview
Digital programs and engagement – responsible for external relationships, implementation and change and adoption, as well as being the place of excellence for driving program delivery, reporting and outcomes.
Primary purpose of position
The APS6 Digital Health Educator is accountable under limited direction to perform complex work to drive the meaningful adoption and use of digital health technologies across multiple healthcare settings. The primary focus of this role will be to coordinate and deliver education and change management support for healthcare providers and consumers in support of the Australian Digital Health Agency’s strategic plan. The APS6 Digital Health Educator will be responsible for working with stakeholders and subject matter experts to create online and digital learning resources for healthcare providers and consumers in support of the Australian Digital Health Agency’s strategic plan.
Essential requirements
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance at a level designated by the Agency on request.
Ability to obtain and maintain national police check.
Australian Citizenship is a condition of eligibility.
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https://marketplace.service.gov.au/2/digital-marketplace/opportunities/19291
Australian Digital Health Agency
DH4205 Project Manager EL1
Opportunity ID 19291
Deadline for asking questions Thursday 24 February 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Application closing date Monday 28 February 2022 at 6pm (in Canberra)
Published Monday 21 February 2022
Category Strategy and Policy
Overview
EL1 Project Managers at Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) are accountable, under broad direction, to perform very complex work that provides the planning, leadership and management of projects and project teams within the Agency. They will exercise a considerable degree of independence and perform a leadership role and will be responsible for defining and managing the requirements, scope and the end-to-end delivery of projects ensuring compliance with the Agency’s project management framework, policies and procedures. EL1 Project Managers must have high level stakeholder engagement skills and be able to understand, negotiate and resolve very complex, difficult, and/or sensitive issues that may arising within a project.
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https://www.seek.com.au/job/56002617?type=standout
EL1 Senior Data Policy Lead
ACT
Government & Defence
Government - Federal
Full time
About the Agency
The Australian Digital Health Agency is responsible for national digital health services and systems, with a focus on engagement, innovation and clinical quality and safety. Our focus is on putting data and technology safely to work for patients, consumers and the healthcare professionals who look after them.
About the Role
The Senior Data Policy Lead will provide leadership on data policy issues in order to advance the Agency’s data maturity and data policy agenda and deliver Agency implementation of the Framework to guide the use of My Health Record data for research or public health purposes. The Senior Data Policy Lead is accountable for:
- Providing expert advice on policy, complex problem solving and issues management for internal and external stakeholders.
- Working closely with other Agency staff to develop and implement all appropriate and necessary data requirements (including governance and management) to ensure My Health Record data use for research and public health purposes.
- Attaining and maintaining an extensive understanding of the role and responsibilities of the agency, including an understanding of the APS operating environment more broadly.
- Communicating and making decisions that are based on professional judgement to develop, implement and evaluate data strategies to realise the value of the Agency’s data assets including promoting updates for terminology and research and public health use of data evaluating risks and in the context of a complex and changing environment.
- Leading the development of the technical infrastructure to ensure efficient and secure provision of My Health Record data for research and public health purposes and alignment with the national modernisation infrastructure program and Agency’s other business areas.
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https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=5dc9c697-60de-4d77-8aac-8e7159bc719b
The cookie crumbles for Facebook Inc: Australia’s Full Federal Court clarifies ‘carrying on business’ under the extra-territorial provisions of the Privacy Act
Australia February 16 2022
On 7 February 2022, the Full Federal Court of Australia delivered its judgment in Facebook Inc v Australian Information Commissioner, where the Court upheld the primary judge's findings that the Commissioner is entitled to serve Facebook Inc with an originating application in the United States as the Commissioner has a prima facie case against Facebook Inc as Facebook Inc was ‘carrying on business’ and collecting personal information in Australia and holding Australian related personal information at the relevant time making it subject to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) by means of its extra-territorial provisions.
Introduction
In early March 2020 the Australian Information Commissioner (in her joint role as Privacy Commissioner) (Commissioner) launched proceedings against Facebook Inc (now Meta Platforms Inc) and Facebook Ireland Limited (Facebook Ireland) in relation to the use and disclosure of personal information obtained through its ‘This is Your Digital Life’ app (most well known in relation to its use by Cambridge Analytica). On 22 April 2020 the Commissioner was granted the right to serve Facebook Inc and Facebook Ireland overseas, with the primary judge dismissing Facebook Inc’s interlocutory application seeking to set aside service of the initiating court documents by the Commissioner on Facebook Inc in the United States. Facebook Inc appealed this decision and on 7 February 2022 the Full Federal Court delivered its ruling on the appeal.
Background
The Commissioner alleged in the proceedings that Facebook Inc and Facebook Ireland (collectively, Facebook) committed serious and/or repeated interferences with the privacy of individuals in contravention of Australian privacy law by disclosing personal information it collected through the ‘This is Your Digital Life’ app without the consent of users (APP 6). In particular, the personal information was shared with Cambridge Analytica which, infamously, used the data for political profiling purposes. This conduct by Facebook was alleged to demonstrate a failure by it to take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised disclosure of personal information (APP 11.1).
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Services Australia braces for ‘wholesale’ IT changes from privacy review
By Justin Hendry on Feb 21, 2022 11:48AM
"Significant concern" over lead time, cost.
“Wholesale changes” to critical whole-of-government IT systems would be needed to accommodate proposed reforms to definitions of personal information under Australia’s privacy laws, Services Australia has warned.
The services agency responsible for Centrelink and Medicare made the comments in its submission [pdf] to the Privacy Act review, arguing that any legislative reform would require “significant” lead time.
As part of the ongoing review, the Attorney-General’s Department has put forward that the Privacy Act be amended to “require information to be ‘anonymous’ rather than ‘de-identified’ for the Act to no longer apply”.
The proposal reflects other proposed changes that would see the definition of personal information in the legislation altered by removing the word ‘about’ and replacing it with ‘relates to’.
In its submission, Services Australia said the proposal, along with the broadening of the personal information definition, would “likely impact on the ability to conduct research projects and customer journey analytics activities”.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/practice/can-artificial-intelligence-save-stethoscope-obsolescence
Can artificial intelligence save the stethoscope from obsolescence?
An icon of the medical profession, its demise has been long predicted
27th January 2022
One of the evergreen stories of primary care is the long-predicted obsolescence of the stethoscope.
They are, we admit, slightly keyed to induce outrage. Many AusDoc readers are still major fans of the 200-year-old technology. At least, that's what the responses indicate.
Of course, there is the symbolism too. A quick browse through any stock photo library will tell you that — in the eyes of the public — stethoscope equals doctor.
So, can the stethoscope be saved?
One option under consideration is turning it into a smart stethoscope with artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction.
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https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2022/6/physicians-guide-to-examination-via-video-consultation/
Physician’s guide to examination via video consultation
Authored by Cate Swannell
THE therapeutic benefits of a “hands-on” physical examination may be missing in video consultations, but partnering with your patient to optimise conditions, preparing properly, and listening closely can still elicit good diagnostic decisions and that all important doctor–patient connection.
“A physical examination is a ritual,” Dr Maja Artandi, a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University, told InSight+ in an exclusive podcast.
“We all know the physical exam is an important diagnostic tool but its other important function is to make the patient–provider connection.
“When patients are sick they expect to be examined, they expect the provider to lay hands on them, and if that exam is done well, with skill and knowledge and respect, it actually has a therapeutic effect.”
“Guidelines and consensus on how to perform a telemedicine physical examination do not yet exist,” wrote Dr Artandi and her colleague, Dr Stephen Russell from the University of Alabama, in the MJA.
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David.
