Ken The current NSW labour party has not even tried to implement what your platform claims it stands for. We have had meeting after meeting after meeting with one of the biggest Public hospitals in Sydney about Electronic communications with GP's. Nothing has happened because of severe lack of interest. This hospital is now looking at electronic records for the hosptal & guess what - the hospital EHR won't "talk" to those of GP's.
If you can send this Labour document to the NSW ALP and ask them to take immediate action, our group will be very impressed and thankfull if they do anything about it. Millions will be saved if this hospital & other public hospitals in my area impliment these guidelines. Cedric -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ken Harvey Sent: Thursday, 31 May 2007 5:38 PM To: General Practice Computing Group Talk Subject: Re: [GPCG_TALK] E-Health Policy - Would Labor make a difference? Geoff Sayer wrote: > There is a sporting phrase "Get into the game or get out of the > stadium." I agree! There is also a relevant quotation attributed to one of Horst's countrymen Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902): "Medicine is a social science and politics is merely medicine practised on a larger stage". Because I hold similar views to Andre I'm standing as an ALP candidate for Kooyong in the forthcoming Federal Election (the reasons are on my web site below). People might also be interested in ALP E-health policy (appended). It's broad-brush but it does aim to deliver! Cheers Ken -- Dr. Ken Harvey Endorsed ALP Candidate for Kooyong 35 Mary St. Hawthorn, Vic, 3122 http://www.medreach.com.au VOIP: +61 (03) 9029 0634; Mobile +61 (04) 1918 1910 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ALP National Platform and Constitution 2007 Harnessing New Technology and Managing Patient Information 67. Labor sees major opportunities for new technology to make health services more effective, more accessible and more consumer friendly. Technological change needs to be carefully managed with close attention to the social and ethical implications and the need for privacy for personal health records. Labor will ensure that commercial interests do not subvert intended health outcomes and that decisions are made on the basis of clinical and cost effectiveness determined by the best available research evidence. 68. Labor will, in collaboration with State and Territory governments, build information technology and communication infrastructure and systems that improve the decisions made by consumers, clinicians and health service managers about care, service delivery and policy. The purpose of this investment will be to: # build accessible knowledge bases from quality data systems, libraries of research evidence and the experience of consumers and professionals; # enhance online communication between consumers and professionals, and primary and acute care settings, regardless of location, to improve health outcomes and service quality; and # create data management systems that monitor population health and the safety, quality and efficiency of health services. 69. Labor will ensure that appropriate training is undertaken by health professionals to develop and maintain the skills necessary to use these knowledge bases, health records and communication systems. 70. Labor believes the development and implementation of health knowledge management systems that include electronic health records and decision support systems for evidence based practice are central to improving the safety and quality of health services. However, these new tools cannot be widely used until satisfactory arrangements are in place to protect security and privacy. 71. Labor will ensure every Australian has a personal electronic health record that is privacy protected. Labor will develop a strong privacy regime built around a unique patient identifier based on the Medicare card. Legislation will prohibit this number being used for any other purpose and access will depend on authorisation from both the patient and the doctor. A range of other safeguards will be incorporated in legislation, which will be developed after a public inquiry into all the issues. 72. It is critical that health providers can communicate effectively with each other while maintaining patient confidentiality. Labor will provide leadership in the development of national, secure health data standards and will establish a common framework for health record systems. The delay in establishing this infrastructure is inhibiting the delivery of quality health services in Australia and contributing to unnecessary adverse events. Specifically Labor will ensure: # the use of tele-health to give rural clinicians direct access to city based specialists and the resources of major teaching hospitals; # the use of secure electronic networks to give clinicians and pharmacists access to high quality drug information sources; and # the use of electronic prescriptions to speed up and reduce errors in communications between clinicians and pharmacists. 73. Labor will give Medicare Australia greater powers to analyse data to examine variations in practices, to enable the promotion of professional practice based on the best available evidence from research. Clinicians will be supported in their evidence-based practice through the development of appropriate, accessible clinical guidelines and pathways of care. _______________________________________________ Gpcg_talk mailing list [email protected] http://ozdocit.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpcg_talk _______________________________________________ Gpcg_talk mailing list [email protected] http://ozdocit.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpcg_talk
