Pen Computer and The College of GPs Develop their Partnership

The following press release hit the inbox this afternoon.

MEDIA RELEASE

RACGP AND PEN COMPUTER SYSTEMS ADVANCE GENERAL PRACTICE E-HEALTH

5 March 2008

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is pleased to announce an agreement with Pen Computer Systems Pty Ltd (PCS), a primary health informatics company, to enhance the utilisation of computers in general practice for clinical record keeping, quality management and electronic clinical decision support.

“The RACGP has had a long–standing interest and commitment to ensuring that general practitioners have access to e-health tools to improve patient care and business efficiency,” said Dr Vasantha Preetham, RACGP President.

“Our members expect us to provide support, advice, advocacy and services on key issues that affect their working lives and that impact on the health care of all Australians. The agreement with Pen Computer Systems allows us to build tools that will help doctors to more easily offer consistent care to our patients. This will be of great benefit to anyone who visits their doctor, and to the business sustainability of general practices.

“Around 90 percent of general practitioners use computer systems to enhance administrative and clinical productivity. This is one of the highest levels of computer adoption world-wide and a critical step towards achieving e-Health objectives for the Australia.

“As technology advances, the e-Health agenda is gathering pace. As a leader in our profession, the RACGP is working to assist our members in taking the next steps along the information super highway.”

To assist the process, the RACGP is announcing a key business agreement with PCS, which has demonstrated a sustained commitment to developing and implementing systems that support chronic disease prevention and management programs, population health reporting, clinical decision support, and the provision of practice tools.

“We have an excellent working relationship with PCS; in recent years we have worked together on the development of the electronic version of the RACGP Red Book which will ensure that general practitioners have ready access to high quality preventive care advice during their consultation with a patient.

“Working with PCS will allow the RACGP to provide practical support to many practices to enhance the delivery of quality care to patients.”

“The opportunities offered by this important agreement are exciting for Pen and will deliver new benefits for the RACGP, its members, and their patients. We look forward to assisting the College as it further embraces the enhancement of quality in general practice with e-health approaches” said John Johnston, Managing Director for PCS

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian general practice. The RACGP has the largest general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia, with the majority of Australia's general practitioners belonging to their professional college. Over 23,000 general practitioners participate in the RACGP Continuing Professional Development Program. The RACGP National Rural Faculty, representing more than 5,000 members, has the largest rural general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia. Visit www.racgp.org.au

For further media enquiries contact Jason Berek-Lewis, National Manager - Media and Communications tel: 0404 055 265 or Erica Fosbender Communications/Media Officer tel: 03 8699 0513

For media enquiries to Pen Computer Systems Pty Ltd contact John Johnston, Managing Director tel: 0408 276 742 or 02 9635 8955 or visit www.pencs.com.au

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I have known for a while the interest Pen and its MD have in the area of improving the value GPs can obtain from the clinical systems – especially in the areas of quality improvement and decision support. This is important stuff – as improving the quality and consistency of General Practice activities can only benefit the community at large as well as the health budget!

This is a good example of where the absence of Government leadership has meant people just have to get on with it and try to make a difference the best way they can. NEHTA won’t be getting to clinically vital areas like this for years!

Good stuff PEN and the College for putting in the effort!

David.