Hi Ken,
There has not been a formal business case done - the Business Architecture (Currently Version 1.9 - and Version 2.0 has been aborted) describes how it is to work - i.e. how it does HC does what it does - not the justification. That was an earlier document which is now out of date I believe which listed broad benefits categories - but made no real stab at costs. A business case really needs both sorted out.
The problem HealthConnect faces is that for it to work there needs to be information flows from GPs, Specialists and Hospitals etc to and from their repositories. For this to work there needs to be standardisation at the messaging level at least of all those flows.
Take it from me there is no way the Commonwealth will ever fund the imagined central repositories and associated infrastructure (is billions - the states may do the hospitals - but not ambulatory practice or the private sector) - so its a dead duck in the form proposed. A a new form does not seem to be being developed..hence my commentary.
Justify, re-strategise and Implement once we know what needs to be done and what will make a real difference for quality, safety and efficiency.
Cheers
David
---- Dr David G More MB, PhD, FACHI Phone +61-2-9438-2851 Fax +61-2-9906-7038 Skype Username : davidgmore E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Thu, 02 Feb 2006 11:41:32 +1100, Ken Harvey wrote: > 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 |
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