This was released earlier today.
Hon Mr Peter Dutton MP
Minister for Health and Minister for Sport
3 November 2013
Federal Government to review electronic health records
Federal Health Minister, the Hon Peter Dutton, today announced a review of Australia’s struggling Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records program which has failed to attract enough doctors to participate in the project.
“While the previous Coalition government laid the foundations for ehealth by getting computers into doctors’ practices, Labor comprehensively messed up the next stage and has wasted over a billion dollars in its failed attempt at the second phase - moving to personal electronic health records”.
Mr Dutton said a year after the introduction of the electronic health records system only a fraction of Australians have established a record and for those who have, only a few hundred doctors have added a Shared Health Summary.
“This defeats the purpose of having a national, electronic system that is meant to help save lives.
"The government fully supports the concept of electronic health records but it must be fit for purpose and cost effective.
“I am therefore announcing today a review of ehealth records to be chaired by Richard Royle, Executive Director of the UnitingCare Health group in Queensland.
"Mr Royle holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Health Administration degrees, and is an active member of the Executive Team responsible for all of UnitingCare's services in Queensland, including Bluecare and UnitingCare Community, as well as UnitingCare Health.
"In addition, Mr Royle is Vice-President of the Australian Private Hospitals Association and he brings more than 30 years experience in management of public and private health services to the position of Review Chair. He is also overseeing the implementation of Australia’s first fully integrated digital hospital in a pilot project at Hervey Bay in Queensland.”
Mr Dutton said Mr Royle will be assisted in the Review by Dr Steve Hambleton, president of the Australian Medical Association and Andrew Walduck, Chief Information Officer of Australia Post.
"The Review team's expertise encompasses information technology, patient and medical services and business administration which I believe is the right mix to put the electronic health records program back on track."
The Review panel will invite submissions from the public along with key stakeholder groups including peak clinical bodies. The Review will report back to Minister Dutton by mid-December 2013 after which the government will consider the recommendations and respond.
Media contact: Kay McNiece, Minister Dutton’s Office, 0412 132 58
Review Terms of Reference
The panel will conduct a Review into the personally controlled electronic health record system dealing with implementation, uptake and including, but not limited to the following:
- The gaps between the expectations of users and what has been delivered
- The level of consultation with end users during the development phase
- The level of use of the PCEHR by health care professions in clinical settings
- Barriers to increasing usage in clinical settings
- Key clinician and patient usability issues
- Work that is still required including new functions that improve the value proposition for clinicians and patients
- Drivers and incentives to increase usage for both industry and health care professionals
- The applicability and potential integration of comparable private sector products
- The future role of the private sector in providing solutions
- The policy settings required to generate private sector solutions
The Panel will make findings and recommendations to the Minister.
There is some coverage here as well.
Govt launches e-health records inquiry
9:06am November 3, 2013
Health Minister Peter Dutton said the system cost $1 billion but so far only a few hundred doctors were uploading patients' records into it.
…..
Mr Dutton said there were savings to be made in the health budget through the electronics records system.
"The problem is that the former government spent about $1 billion in this area and the number of people actively using the records numbers in the thousands," he told Sky News.
…..
Mr Dutton said the inquiry would examine, the funding, contracts, governance arrangements and contracts.
"If we don't get it right, I suspect we are going to be having the same discussion in five years time, having spent more money but no patient outcomes," he said.
…..
Mr Dutton said he wanted to make sure the money being spent was spent efficiently.
"At the moment it's a meaningless record, doctors won't embrace it, they are not populating the information, patients are missing out and taxpayers are copping the cost," he said.
Full article here:
So what do we have here:
1. A six week enquiry.
2. No specific e-Health expertise in the key staff.
3. No Medical Software industry representation on the Committee.
4. Very little time for anyone to prepare submissions or be consulted.
5. No apparent commitment to release the outcome of the enquiry.
The question that has to be asked is - “Is this the Clayton’s Enquiry? - the one you have when you are not actually having one” . This comment from Mr Dutton - apparently on Sky News - would seem to suggest so.
“Mr Dutton said he wanted to make sure the money being spent was spent efficiently.
"At the moment it's a meaningless record, doctors won't embrace it, they are not populating the information, patients are missing out and taxpayers are copping the cost," he said.”
Additionally, how could it be possible to properly review a 2.5 year $1 Billion program in less than six weeks?
There really have to be very big questions around all this. What changes could be made to make this flawed idea useful? What are the implications of just hoping all will be OK in the end? What would happen if it was just closed down? Is there anyone who should be held accountable for mislaying a $billion? Can this thing ever deliver real clinical benefits? Is the PCEHR just a way for the Government to collect and mine private information? What has been the damage to the Aussie e-Health sector while all this goes on?
Six weeks is a joke really!
There really have to be very big questions around all this. What changes could be made to make this flawed idea useful? What are the implications of just hoping all will be OK in the end? What would happen if it was just closed down? Is there anyone who should be held accountable for mislaying a $billion? Can this thing ever deliver real clinical benefits? Is the PCEHR just a way for the Government to collect and mine private information? What has been the damage to the Aussie e-Health sector while all this goes on?
Six weeks is a joke really!
While I will probably make a submission this has to be a con with a pre-determined outcome.
David.
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