Personal health records in the ACT are to go digital in the years ahead with the new ACT Health Directorate introducing a Digital Health Record across the public health system.
The move follows the release of the ACT’s Digital Health Strategy in May and the $41 million Budget allocation last year to position the Territory to take advantage of new technologies and advances in health care into the future.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Meegan Fitzharris said effective healthcare meant timely healthcare, and a key part of delivering a Territory-wide health system was through a fully integrated digital health environment.
“We want our healthcare system to provide the best possible care to patients. That means, ensuring we can adapt new digital technologies as they evolve to improve health services and clinical care,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“The new Digital Health Record will be centred on the person, rather than focused around clinical speciality or treatment location.”
She said the Digital Health Record would ensure health information was at the fingertips of those who needed it.
Chief Information Officer for the Health Directorate, Peter O’Halloran said the Digital Health Record project would completely transform the health system.
“It is not only an exciting development but a critically important one, when it comes to maintaining a modern, sustainable health system,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“ICT systems, through innovations in medical technologies, have evolved so rapidly that over time more than 250 different systems have been established here in the ACT.”
He said the rapid and innovative changes meant ACT Health had not been able to take full advantage of new technologies as they became available because the digital environment could be complex to navigate.
“That’s why this investment in one comprehensive Digital Health Record will be fundamental to our future health system,” Mr O’Halloran said.
The Digital Health Record project will be rolled out over an eight-year period to ensure a smooth transition of clinical information into one system for clinicians, staff, patients and carers.
