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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The sad news of the week is that yet again we find the Federal Government trying to screw smaller digital health firms. They really need to be reined in I believe.
Otherwise just the usual tid-bits!
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Australian government seeks to slash funding for escripts by up to 80% and may acquire IP
A request for tender by the Department of Health has caused alarm in the industry with its plan to shake up the nation's most successful digital health infrastructure project.
By Lynne Minion
April 14, 2022 03:57 AM
Australian companies behind the most successful and widely used digital health infrastructure programme, the nation's electronic prescription network, could face a drastic reduction in profits or may lose their projects due to a new Commonwealth Department of Health request for tender.
The implications of the government's move has sent shockwaves through the industry, with about 100 representatives of digital health organisations attending a closed door meeting held by the Medical Software Industry Association (MSIA) on Tuesday.
The department's RFT – issued without consultation with industry – is seeking companies to apply to provide prescription delivery services and an active script list registry.
These services are currently provided by eRx (owned by Fred IT) and MediSecure, which developed the systems over 10 years.
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https://www.tenders.gov.au/Atm/Show/f318621c-7a5e-4a7f-8337-8e6a74114f6a
Current ATM View - RFTHealth/E21-576909
Request for Tender – Electronic Prescription Services
Contact Details Procurement Lead
Email Address: eprescribing@health.gov.au
ATM Documents Lodgement Page ATM ID: RFTHealth/E21-576909
Agency: Department of Health
Category: 85101700 - Health administration services
Close Date & Time: 2-Jun-2022 2:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
Show close time
for other time zones
Publish Date: 31-Mar-2022
Location: ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT, TAS
ATM Type: Request for Tender
Multi Agency Access: No
Panel Arrangement: No
Multi-stage: No
Description:
The Department of Health is issuing this Request For Tender (RFT) to engage providers of Electronic Prescription Services, specifically, Prescription Delivery Services (PDS) and an Active Script List Register (ASLR).
Since 2010, there has been significant development and growth in the electronic prescribing ecosystem and the Department has engaged with service providers and stakeholders to fund and operate the environment. Approximately 91% of dispensed scripts are now digitally supported.
To ensure continued optimisation, value for money and quality customer experiences, the Department is issuing this RFT with a view to engaging a single or multiple Prescription Delivery Services (PDS) providers and a single Active Script List Register (ASLR) provider, for an initial term of four years and three optional further terms of one year each.
Tenderers may offer to supply PDS AND/OR the ASLR as part of their Tender.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/tasmanians-to-get-a-single-government-identifier-578606
Tasmanians to get a single government identifier
By Justin Hendry on Apr 12, 2022 6:09AM
With the arrival of myServiceTas portal.
The Tasmanian government will introduce a single identifier for residents as part of its planned one-stop digital services portal, myServiceTas.
Service Tasmania revealed plans to link “discrete government identities to a single whole-of-government identifier” in its request for tender for the portal released on the weekend.
myServiceTas – the centrepiece digital pledge by the government in the lead up to last year’s election – is being created to ensure Tasmanians can access digital services in a unified manner.
The government set aside $4.3 million in last year’s budget to kick-start development, as well as redevelop its website and create a life events framework, following an unflattering review.
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ResApp Health is trialling a smartphone app to diagnose Covid through sound of coughing
CITY BEAT CHRIS HERDE
4:42PM April 10, 2022
A Brisbane digital health start-up is on the way to the commercialisation of a smartphone application which will use the sound of your coughing to diagnose Covid-19.
ASX-listed ResApp Health is preparing for talks with regulators after positive results on the technology for screening before the use of a rapid antigen (RAT) or PCR test.
Dr Tony Keating, who founded the company in 2015 with Brian Leedman, says trials found the app could detect Covid in 92 per cent of people with the infection through the use of cough audio and patient-reported symptoms.
“The Covid tests are still in the early trial stages but we have had great results,” he says.
“Basically the way we’ve designed the test is that of it says No and you don’t have Covid, you don’t have to do a RAT or a PCR test but if it says YES then you go down the normal path of testing.”
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ADHA - Health API Gateway transition
Dear Valued Industry Partner,
The Australian Digital Health Agency is upgrading Australia’s digital health platform to ensure it continues to meet the needs of Australians into the future.
The first key upgrade is a new Health API Gateway that will provide a secure and scalable digital platform for exchanging and accessing health information. It will be a key enabler of the Agency’s work to create a collaborative environment to accelerate adoption and use of innovative digital services and technologies. It’s the first step in achieving a future where digital health is in broad use.
The current gateway (Oracle API gateway) is being decommissioned and the new Health API Gateway Services will constitute a standalone, contemporary capability to provide services for the My Health Record system that can be extended to support the infrastructure in the national digital health infrastructure and broader future state concept.
Services will be consumed by clinical systems, web portals and mobile apps developed by the Agency and software vendors in support of consumer and provider applications.
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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/more-1000-gps-stress-test-online-fellowship-exam
More than 1000 GPs 'stress test' online fellowship exam
The RACGP says mock assessment was a success and will mean the AKT in July will be computer-based
14th April 2022
The RACGP’s computer-based exams are making a comeback after its mock online fellowship exam passed a 45-minute 'stress test’ involving more than a thousand GPs.
The volunteers completed a version of the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) last week.
While the RACGP provided them with correct answers after the exam, it did not attempt to check whether qualified GPs would have flunked their fellowship.
To test yourself, check out the sample questions below.
But in the result that mattered, the software did not break down when candidates logged on at the same time.
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Alcidion Customer Newsletter April 2022
A message from our Managing Director
The beginning of the new year has brought both new faces and
new customers to Alcidion. In particular, I am pleased to welcome Florian
Stroehle to the leadership team as Director of Strategy and Business
Development along with two new additions to our UK team in Steve Leggett (UK
Head of Strategic Markets) and Dr Paul Deffley (UK Chief Medical Officer). I
look forward to working with them all as our team and product offering continue
to grow.
>From new partnerships to extensions of current agreements, I am
extremely pleased by the momentum of deals which have been finalised by our
team in recent weeks. Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust were the first NHS site to
procure Alcidion’s new Miya Emergency module alongside new partner Provation®’s
anaesthetics module iPro. NHS Tayside are the third Scotland based board to implement
Miya Observations, a milestone that recognises the benefits of the solution
realised at NHS Fife and NHS Lanarkshire. We welcome our first community trust
in Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
who will deploy Miya Flow, the foundation module of Miya Precision.
Congratulations to our UK team for continuing to develop our relationships
across the NHS.
With the new year has come the return of in-person conferences in some regions
and we welcomed the chance to catch up with colleagues and customers at the Australasia Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) Digital Health
Summit in Melbourne in February and Digital Health Rewired in London in March. These
conferences provide Alcidion the opportunity to present the latest releases and
products to the market and we look forward to the return of further
opportunities as the year progresses.
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https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/careers/contract-administration-officer
Contract Administration Officer
APS5
($90,901 - $98,303)
Technology
Services Division > Procurement, Contract Management
Brisbane,
Canberra, Sydney
Closing - 2 May 2022
Division Overview
Technology services – responsible for the operation of high quality, trusted, reliable and secure national digital health infrastructure and health support systems.
Primary purpose of position
Supporting the Technology Division, the Contract Administration Officer is responsible for assisting in the management of Contracts related to the My Health Record, including but not limited to the National Infrastructure Operator, Services Australia, Oracle and the Health API Gateway. The Contract Administration Officer is required to deliver outcomes in line with the Agency’s strategic objectives. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, the role will provide support and advice in relation to contract management, finance and compliance. The Contract Administration Officer is also accountable for:
- Assisting with the successful management of contracts including the review of quotes relating to additional services and track, monitor and advise on financial expenditure of Contracts and additional services.
- Assisting with the coordination, communication and reporting of Contract performance and issues, including written advice to internal stakeholders and Executive.
- Assisting in the undertaking and coordination of supplier performance meetings (including developing agendas and secretariat duties), supplier performance reporting and effective management of suppliers, including review and execution of contract extensions, variations and amendments.
- Ensuring financial compliance and adherence to the relevant Government legislation e.g. PGPA Act,CPRs and the Agency Accountable Authority Instructions.
- Assisting in the management of allocated budget against Contract funds, including assessment of monthly financial forecast against estimates and seeking relevant approvals.
- Tracking, monitoring and advising key stakeholders on performance against service standards and service indicators, including monitoring and reporting on Contract Deliverables.
- Coordinating the raising of purchase orders in SAP for financial commitment, including reviewing and acquitting invoices against the relevant Contract and seek delegate approval for payment;
- Liaising with internal and external stakeholders and develop and maintain effective relationships.
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https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/601984/Improvements-made-to-CCCM.htm
Improvements made to shared care record for Covid patients
Wednesday, 13 April 2022
NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth
Improvements have been made to
the Covid Clinical Care Module (CCCM) to make it more user friendly for GPs,
who are struggling to deal with the large number of Covid-19 cases in the
community.
The CCCM is a national shared care record for Covid patients. It is an
iteration of the Border Clinical Management System,
which was developed for use in Managed Isolation and Quarantine Facilities and
is a modified version of the indici practice management system.
All Covid-19 care coordination hubs, general practices and some other
healthcare providers, such as Urgent Care Centres and Emergency Departments,
are able to access the CCCM.
When eHealthNews spoke to GP leaders in February, they said the system was
creating more work and stress when GPs were already exceptionally busy and they
wanted it to be an ‘option’ for them to use.
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Heavily redacted documents force delay to NBN Co pricing talks
Lucas Baird Reporter
Apr 14, 2022 – 11.38am
The competition watchdog has delayed its formal consultation on an update to NBN Co’s controversial wholesale pricing model until late May to address issues around the release of commercially sensitive information.
NBN Co – the owner and operator of the national broadband network – had given the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission its submission on potential changes, but it was redacted to such an extent the regulator did not think it would facilitate a transparent consultation process.
Telcos say wholesale costs for the NBN are rising.
“The ACCC is required by legislation to publish and consult on the variation to the undertaking in full, and proposes to do so as soon as is practical to allow third parties to fully engage in a meaningful consultation process,” ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-co-has-to-rewrite-its-own-rules-to-be-publishable-578786
NBN Co has to rewrite its own rules to be publishable
By Ry Crozier on Apr 14, 2022 11:47AM
SAU variation sent back due to redactions.
NBN Co is having to rewrite parts of a document that outlines planned changes to the rules that govern its existence through to 2040 because too much of it was claimed commercially sensitive and unpublishable.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which is running the review, said today that it is obligated to publish the document in full - unredacted - for consultation.
While it received the document on March 29, it could not reach an easy agreement with NBN Co on unredacting or removing sensitive portions, meaning it has to be sent back to NBN Co for rework.
“NBN Co submitted a version of the proposed variation for publication in which information it considers to be commercially sensitive was redacted,” the ACCC said.
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NBN fix ‘key to boosting flagging productivity’
10:52PM April 10, 2022
Anthony Albanese has promised to “fix the National Broadband Network” as part of his pitch to lead Labor into government from opposition for only the fourth time since World War II.
Labor has a policy to expand full-fibre NBN access to 1.5 million premises and promised 90 per cent of Australians in the fixed-line footprint – or more than 10 million premises – would have access to world-class speeds by 2025.
The Opposition Leader says his plan will create 12,000 jobs for construction workers, engineers and project managers. He has also vowed not to sell off the NBN in a bid to keep internet costs down for families.
Mr Albanese mentioned the NBN several times in his Sunday press conference, saying it was a key project that would help boost Australia’s flagging productivity.
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Enjoy!
David.
