Published Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 at 02:30 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
SMART TECHNOLOGIES TO DELIVER BETTER HEALTH SERVICES
The Beattie Government will invest an additional $243 million over the next four years to roll out advanced technologies that will develop a better health system in Queensland.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said as Queensland Health’s capacity to deliver improved care increased so would the need for investment in information systems which better support clinical practice and safer health services.
“This funding, including $40 million in 2007-08, will deliver our eHealth Strategy to support the collection, transmission, storage and access of patient and clinical information in a way that more effectively supports the clinical care process,” Mr Robertson said.
“It will build on existing information systems and applications currently in use by Queensland hospitals and community care organisations.
“As a result, many patients will receive their treatment and diagnoses in faster and more efficiently.”
Mr Robertson said new smart technologies will be rolled out such as the Emergency Department Information System which will be used in 30 emergency departments across the state by 2008.
“This system provides hospital staff with a map of the whole emergency department including a graphic display of all beds and patients,” Mr Robertson said.
“It will give emergency departments the ability to record patient information before they enter the hospital, and significantly improve the tracking of patient conditions, treatments and movements. Consequently, we will see hospitals getting through more patients presenting to EDs.
“Another system commencing by the end of 2007, will detail the current capacity of all Queensland Health emergency departments to improve patient flow and ambulance transportation.
“It will result in patients being transported directly to a hospital with sufficient ED capacity,
reducing travel times and improving patient safety.
“EDs will also benefit by having consistent processes and technology to communicate their current state of capacity and likelihood of diverting to other hospitals.
“It will also mean the ambulance service will have “real time” visibility of ED capacity and have the ability to deploy their vehicles more efficiently to better meet patient needs.”
Mr Robertson said rural and remote Queenslander would be the big beneficiaries of the investment in new technologies.
“An upgrade of telecommunications infrastructure such as the introduction of wireless technology to more than 300 Queensland Health sites will occur by late 2008,” he said.
“Significantly, the majority of hospitals and community health care organisations to receive this upgrade will be outside the south east corner.”
“Wireless technology will significantly improve the flexibility and mobility of rural and remote health care workers.”
Other significant investments across the state in 2007 / 2008 include:
• Easier and quicker access to radiology results for patients anywhere in the state such as x-rays, computered tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through electronic viewing via a new Radiology Information System;
• Improved access to online patient oral health records and more efficient and safer patient treatment across the state, through the extension of the QH Oral Health Services adult clinics information system into 121 school-based clinics and 201 mobile vans which currently provide oral health services to schools throughout Queensland;
• Faster patient information to GPs and reduced risks of adverse medication events by developing a standard online environment to provide Electronic Discharge Summaries from hospitals;
• Reducing the number of trips to hospitals and major treatment centres for patients of chronic and complex diseases by delivering an information system that allows Queensland Health to share information on diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis with GPs and QH Specialists.
Mr Robertson said the future investment in Queensland Health’s information systems and infrastructure would see the department become a national leader in health information system innovation and investment.
5 June, 2007
MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said as Queensland Health’s capacity to deliver improved care increased so would the need for investment in information systems which better support clinical practice and safer health services.
“This funding, including $40 million in 2007-08, will deliver our eHealth Strategy to support the collection, transmission, storage and access of patient and clinical information in a way that more effectively supports the clinical care process,” Mr Robertson said.
“It will build on existing information systems and applications currently in use by Queensland hospitals and community care organisations.
“As a result, many patients will receive their treatment and diagnoses in faster and more efficiently.”
Mr Robertson said new smart technologies will be rolled out such as the Emergency Department Information System which will be used in 30 emergency departments across the state by 2008.
“This system provides hospital staff with a map of the whole emergency department including a graphic display of all beds and patients,” Mr Robertson said.
“It will give emergency departments the ability to record patient information before they enter the hospital, and significantly improve the tracking of patient conditions, treatments and movements. Consequently, we will see hospitals getting through more patients presenting to EDs.
“Another system commencing by the end of 2007, will detail the current capacity of all Queensland Health emergency departments to improve patient flow and ambulance transportation.
“It will result in patients being transported directly to a hospital with sufficient ED capacity,
reducing travel times and improving patient safety.
“EDs will also benefit by having consistent processes and technology to communicate their current state of capacity and likelihood of diverting to other hospitals.
“It will also mean the ambulance service will have “real time” visibility of ED capacity and have the ability to deploy their vehicles more efficiently to better meet patient needs.”
Mr Robertson said rural and remote Queenslander would be the big beneficiaries of the investment in new technologies.
“An upgrade of telecommunications infrastructure such as the introduction of wireless technology to more than 300 Queensland Health sites will occur by late 2008,” he said.
“Significantly, the majority of hospitals and community health care organisations to receive this upgrade will be outside the south east corner.”
“Wireless technology will significantly improve the flexibility and mobility of rural and remote health care workers.”
Other significant investments across the state in 2007 / 2008 include:
• Easier and quicker access to radiology results for patients anywhere in the state such as x-rays, computered tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through electronic viewing via a new Radiology Information System;
• Improved access to online patient oral health records and more efficient and safer patient treatment across the state, through the extension of the QH Oral Health Services adult clinics information system into 121 school-based clinics and 201 mobile vans which currently provide oral health services to schools throughout Queensland;
• Faster patient information to GPs and reduced risks of adverse medication events by developing a standard online environment to provide Electronic Discharge Summaries from hospitals;
• Reducing the number of trips to hospitals and major treatment centres for patients of chronic and complex diseases by delivering an information system that allows Queensland Health to share information on diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis with GPs and QH Specialists.
Mr Robertson said the future investment in Queensland Health’s information systems and infrastructure would see the department become a national leader in health information system innovation and investment.
5 June, 2007
MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190