JOINT MEDIA RELEASE ‘JOINED-UP HEALTH’ A STEP CLOSER
Tuesday 19 May 2009 The vision of health professionals being able to share vital medical information about complex cases, instantly and securely, came a step closer last week with a $1.2 M Federal Budget allocation. Over the next 2 years, work will start on an Electronic Health Information Exchange linking doctors, hospitals and allied health service providers in the region with secure internet technology. The system will save time and reduce the risk of error in the handling of patient information, particularly for complex cases involving several different health services providers. General Practice North West, the Cradle Coast Authority and the UTAS Rural Clinical School raised the need for such a system in a joint submission to the Federal Government late last year. The group briefed Braddon MP, Sid Sidebottom, who then presented the group’s detailed proposal to the Federal Health Minister for consideration in the budget. General Practice North West CEO, Ms Elvie Hales, said the system will free up GP time by enabling them to send and receive secure referral and discharge information electronically, relieving some effects of the current GP shortage. Rural Clinical School Chief Executive, Professor Judi Walker, said medical students would greatly benefit by being trained in GP and medical specialist environments where patients’ health summaries can be shared safely and confidentially saving time and reducing risk of mistakes. Cradle Coast Authority Executive Chairman, Roger Jaensch said the project is the logical next step in the process of ‘joining up’ health services in the Cradle Coast region. “Patients expect that all the people dealing with their sickness or injury are constantly comparing notes and talking with each other. This project will help make that easier, more accurate and convenient for everyone involved,” Mr Jaensch said.
For further information contact: Elvie Hales, General Practice North West 6432 1440 Roger Jaensch, Cradle Coast Authority 6431 6285 Prof Judi Walker, Rural Clinical School 0418 508 680