David More wrote:
HealthConnect is dead ... This is made clear by the recent re-branding
of HealthConnect as now being a 'Health Market Change Management Strategy'
- whatever that means!
Yet the last HealthConnect Newsletter, Volume 4. No.2 December 2005,
said, "The finishing touches are being put to the new HealthConnect web
site, ready for launch early in 2006. It reflects the development of
HealthConnect from the research and trial focus of the original web site
to progressive implementation around the country".
And the HealthConnect Implementation Strategy, Version 2.1 6, July 2005
still has as a deliverable: 2.5.2 Enhanced quality and safety through a
shared electronic health record. It also says, "Result [of
Implementation Strategy]: HealthConnect services will become available
on a regional basis within a national interoperability framework sooner
than previously anticipated". See:
http://www.healthconnect.gov.au/whats_new.htmwww.healthconnect.gov.au
So are these last year's "weasel words" or do they represent an ongoing
plan to build HealthConnect from the grass-roots [small State projects]
up to an interoperable shared national summary electronic health record?
And if the latter, where are the specific plans and budget?
Regardless, I agree with David that it is entirely unclear how NEHTA's
current work on "standards" [which I support] will be implemented in the
numerous, unregulated, commercial software packages that already exist
in general practice (and are starting to be implemented in State public
hospitals).
In addition, given NEHTA's "transitional" nature and finite (3 year?)
life, it does not engender confidence that they will drive forward
coherent Australian E-Health policy.
Furthermore Dr. Brian Richards', presentation on "E-health
implementation" presented at the AHIC Stakeholder Forum on 25 November
2005 (see above web site) shows NEHTA with a lateral advisory role only
[slide 14]. From Brian's slide it appears that no one is in charge of
Australian E-health policy!
It would be good if Brian Richards &/or Ian Reinecke could respond to
these concerns.
Finally, David More said,
First, there needs to be a proper national business case developed to
establish the costs and benefits of deployment of appropriate Health IT
and the opportunity cost to the community of not doing so...
I thought that all this had been done in previous "Business
architecture" papers on the HealthConnect web site.
Oops, I now find these have all be removed, instead the, "Business
Architecture" heading says: "The HealthConnect website is under
redevelopment to reflect new partnership arrangements between the
Australian, State and Territory governments to implement HealthConnect
as an overarching national change management strategy to improve safety
and quality in health care by establishing and maintaining a range of
standardised electronic health information products and services for
health care providers and consumers".
So, like David, I'm now not at all sure what HealthConnect means!
Cheers
Ken
--
Dr. Ken Harvey
http://www.medreach.com.au; Skype: ken_harvey_medreach
VOIP: +61 (03) 9029 0634; Mobile +61 (04) 1918 1910
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