Weekly Australian Health IT Links - 14-12-2009

Here are a few I have come across this week.

Note: Each link is followed by a title and a paragraph or two. For the full article click on the link above title of the article.

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http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/hardware/soa/WA-Health-issues-4-million-Cisco-contract/0,130061702,339299989,00.htm

WA Health issues $4 million Cisco contract

By Josh Mehlman, ZDNet.com.au
10 December 2009 05:17 PM

The Western Australian Department of Health is upgrading its networks and has issued a two-year, $4 million tender for Cisco switches and systems integration services.

The request for tender seeks a single company to supply Cisco switch infrastructure and associated management systems, and systems integration services for the equipment supplied. The equipment supplied must be from Cisco for "interoperability and Standard Operating Environment reasons".

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http://www.itwire.com/content/view/29980/127/

NBN to drive critical mass for new apps: Conroy

by James Riley

Friday, 11 December 2009

Australia does not have the critical mass of connections that would allow for the natural development of emerging applications in areas like e-health, education and business productivity and required Government intervention, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said.

The massive Government investment in the National Broadband Network was an enabling investment in the broader economy, and in social service delivery, Senator Conroy said.
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http://www.australiandoctor.com.au/articles/4F/0C06624F.asp

E-health system still short on detail

8-Dec-2009

By Sarah Colyer

FRUSTRATION is mounting at the Federal Government’s lack of detail on how an e-health system will work, after a vague announcement at yesterday’s Council of Australian Governments meeting.

In a communiqué from yesterday’s meeting, COAG “affirm[ed] its commitment to the introduction in 2010 of national healthcare identifier numbers”.

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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/nbn-co-down-the-wrong-path-cisco/story-e6frgakx-1225809283038

NBN Co down the wrong path: Cisco

  • Andrew Colley
  • From: Australian IT
  • December 11, 2009 8:50AM

NETWORKING experts have discussed concerns that the national broadband network will put the nation on a $43 billion path "back to the future" by returning incumbent telcos to dominant market positions.

Cisco Australia chief technology officer Kevin Bloch said that the NBN Co's minimalist approach to building the network would place an additional investment burden on access seekers that only dominant market players could bear.

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http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/iSoft-looking-to-create-500-Aussie-jobs/0,130061733,339299986,00.htm

iSoft looking to create 500 Aussie jobs

By Suzanne Tindal, ZDNet.com.au
10 December 2009 05:43 PM

Australian-listed e-health company iSoft is considering upping its headcount in Australia by 500 people, hoping to increase the percentage of research and development workers it fields down under.

"We are looking for investment and I've asked for a significant amount of investment to put back into Australia," iSoft managing director Australia and New Zealand Denis Tebbutt said today at an Australian Information Industry Association event in Sydney.

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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/regional-it-projects-get-265m-boost/story-e6frgakx-1225808993365

Regional IT projects get $26.5m boost

  • Fran Foo
  • From: Australian IT
  • December 10, 2009 11:54AM

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd today unveiled seven projects that would receive a total of $26.5m as part of the $60m Digital Regions initiative.

The purpose of the program is to deliver better health, education and emergency services to regional, rural and remote communities.

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http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/bionic-fingers-lending-a-helping-hand/story-e6frfku0-1225808800904

Bionic fingers lending a helping hand

  • From correspondents in London
  • From: AAP
  • December 09, 2009 8:39PM

THE world's first set of bionic fingers have been unveiled by scientists in Britain.

The lightweight motorised fingers, which cost up to STG45,000 ($80,585), are made out of plastic and give people with damaged hands the ability to pick up objects, write, grip and point.

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http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/329008/tony_who_budde

Tony who?: Budde

New shadow communications minister needs to engage with the industry, then get some policies

Tim Lohman 08 December, 2009 13:09

The first priority of the new shadow communications ministers, Tony Smith, should be to consult with industry and develop positive, constructive policies on the National Broadband Network (NBN), according to telecommunications analyst, Paul Budde.

Speaking to Computerworld, Budde said that former shadow communications minister Nick Minchin term had been characterised by politicking and a lack of engagement with the industry.

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http://abnnewswire.net/press/en/61905/iSOFT_Group_Limited_ASX:ISF_Launches_New_Aged_And_Community_Care_IT_Solution.html

iSOFT Group Limited (ASX:ISF) Launches New Aged And Community Care IT Solution

Sydney, Dec 9, 2009 (ABN Newswire) - iSOFT Group Limited (ASX:ISF) today announced the launch of iSOFT Aged Care - Enterprise Wide Health (EWH), an integrated management solution for aged and community care organisations.

iSOFT Aged Care is designed to support organisations of any size, including residential, long-term and community care, and retirement living. Enabling the delivery of improved and more efficient health care, the solution includes residential aged care and retirement components that manage care records, billing and financials, eBusiness and reporting requirements.

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http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/329210/isoft_won_t_take_hit_from_uk_contracts_ceo

iSoft won't take a hit from UK contracts: CEO

iSoft executive chairman and CEO Gary Cohen says little chance of NHS National Program for IT being scrapped

Trevor Clarke 09 December, 2009 16:49

ASX-listed healthcare software provider iSoft (ASX:ISF) has down played the possibility of taking a hit from possible changes to its lucrative UK contract for the NHS National Program for IT.

Comments from chancellor Alistair Darling ahead of the UK government's pre-Budget report this week suggested the 12.7 billion pound program could be scrapped.

Speaking to Boardroom Radio Australia iSoft executive chairman and CEO Gary Cohen, said the government had since clarified the chancellor's statements and that there was little chance of the program being binned.

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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/three-way-struggle-for-bionic-eye-development/story-e6frgakx-1225807909793

Three-way struggle for bionic eye development

COMPETITION for a $50.7 million fund to develop a bionic eye has become a three-way tussle between Bionic Vision Australia, Swinburne University of Technology and a mystery suitor.

It is understood the Australian Research Council has short-listed a joint bid by Swinburne University and La Trobe University's Graeme Clark Hearing and Neuroscience Unit, and a second bid by Bionic Vision Australia backed by National ICT Australia and the University of Melbourne.

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http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/328860/consensus_reached_e-health_software_standards?eid=-255

Consensus reached on e-health software standards

National E-Health Transition Authority announces standards agreement

Georgina Swan 07 December, 2009 17:50

The move towards e-health standards has taken a significant step forward as industry groups join with the National E-health Transition Authority (NEHTA) to develop an approach for the standard assessment of medical software.

The four industry groups — the Medical Software Industry Association (MSIA), the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) and the Joint Accreditation Scheme of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) — have been working with NEHTA to define how software will be certified and the principles around compliance and conformance.

Note: Covered in earlier blog.

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http://www.newsmaker.com.au/news/2013

Australia’s Fragmented E-Health System in Limbo

Monday, December 07, 2009 - IQPC Australia

Sydney, Australia – Australia’s fragmented e-Health system has hit another barrier with reports claiming the governments have ‘changed direction’ on a national e-Health scheme.

NEHTA’s Chief Executive Peter Flemming said the original vision of having a single e-health record for each Australian had been abandoned by the Council of Australian Governments in favour of a ‘more commercial approach’.

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http://www.media.tas.gov.au/release.php?id=28578

Lara Giddings, MP

Minister for Health

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

NW Patients Linked to New Medical Records System

North West patients will soon be able to access health services across Tasmania without the need to repeat personal details every step of the way.

The North West Area Health Service has replaced its 20-year-old patient administration system with an up-to-date integrated statewide system.

The new system, launched at the Mersey Community Hospital today by Health Minister Lara Giddings, allocates each patient a single identification number which will apply across the State and lays the foundation for the introduction of the electronic patient record.

Note: iSoft are the software provider.

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http://www.nehta.gov.au/media-centre/nehta-news/571-snomed-ct

Health terminology for the Australian health sector launched

7 December 2009. NEHTA today launched the first release of SNOMED CT-AU®* to Australian licence holders.

SNOMED CT-AU is the Australian release of SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms) with additional customised content for the Australian healthcare market.

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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/warning-on-self-diagnosis-via-the-net/story-e6frgakx-1225807584107

Warning on self-diagnosis via the net

RESEARCHERS have warned Australians risk becoming a "nation of cyberchondriacs", as doctors urge consumers against using the internet to diagnose and treat themselves rather than consulting a health professional.

According to a new study, more than one in four Australians who search online for health information believe they can use it to diagnose and treat themselves without the need for a doctor.

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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/gov-20-unveils-draft-report/story-e6frgakx-1225807627091

Gov 2.0 unveils draft report

  • Fran Foo
  • From: Australian IT
  • December 07, 2009 10:01AM

THE public has been invited to comment on how federal government departments and agencies can utilise web 2.0 to their benefit.

They will have until December 16 to air their views on a 129-page draft report on web 2.0, including social networking tools and websites like Facebook and Twitter.

Also here:

http://www.smh.com.au/national/challenge-is-for-public-servants-to-shrug-off-their-instinct-for-secrecy-20091207-kffh.html

Challenge is for public servants to shrug off their instinct for secrecy

MATTHEW MOORE

December 8, 2009

THERE are two main recommendations in this report on how government should adapt to the internet era and one obstacle threatens both of them: public service culture.

Unless that culture changes, the report says, secrecy will remain the default position of government.

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http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/no-tumour-link-to-mobile-phones-says-study-20091204-kaqs.html

No tumour link to mobile phones, says study

December 4, 2009

A very large, 30-year study of just about everyone in Scandinavia shows no link between mobile phone use and brain tumours, researchers reported on Thursday.

Even though mobile telephone use soared in the 1990s and afterward, brain tumours did not become any more common during this time, the researchers reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

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http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/the-future-before-your-eyes-20091205-kc04.html

The future before your eyes

KELSEY MUNRO

December 6, 2009

IMAGINE a world where your contact lenses double as a personal computer display, superimposing information in front of you.

That virtual-reality dream, a staple of sci-fi movies, is a step closer thanks to the work of Seattle scientists who have been developing a prototype to generate images inside a contact lens. The information would appear about 50 centimetres from the user's eye.

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http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/NSW-Health-CIO-leaves-role/0,139023166,339299849,00.htm

NSW Health CIO leaves role

By Suzanne Tindal, ZDNet.com.au
04 December 2009 12:58 PM

in brief: NSW Health chief information officer Mike Rillstone has made permanent his secondment as the chief executive of NSW Health's shared services area.

A spokesperson for NSW Health told ZDNet.com.au that Rillstone has now been appointed to the role of CEO Health Support Services. He stepped into that role in June as a six-month secondment while the department sought an executive to fill the position, which was vacant after the former chief executive John Roach became NSW Health's chief financial officer.

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http://www.techworld.com.au/article/329227/mozilla_thunderbird_e-mail_client_comes_tabs

Mozilla's Thunderbird e-mail client comes with tabs

Mozilla hopes to lure users away from Outlook with new search features

Mikael Ricknäs (IDG News Service) 10/12/2009 06:25:00

Mozilla Thunderbird 3 now has message archiving

Mozilla Messaging on Tuesday released version 3 of its Thunderbird e-mail client, which comes with a tabbed user interface and improved search features.

The support for tabs is inspired by the same tabs that have become a standard feature in web browsers and function in the same manner. For example, hitting enter or double-clicking a message opens it in a new tab.

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Enjoy!

David.

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