North West Tasmania Electronic Health Information Exchange Project (eHIEP)

The project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

In 2009 the University of Tasmania Rural Clinical School, General Practice North West, and the Cradle Coast Authority proposed the Electronic Health Information Exchange Project (eHIEP) for North West Tasmania.

eHIEP has sought advice from a local Reference Group which represents local General Practitioners, Specialists, Primary and Allied Health, and North West Area Health Services and from this consultation has developed the following shared local vision which will drive the project:

"A regional community of practice in which electronic patient health records can be shared across healthcare organisations in North West Tasmania, providing secure access to accurate, relevant information at the point of care".

Secondary use of collated information will inform health service planning.

Project Objectives

  • Increase connectivity between users and the quality and flow of information exchanged
  • Establish a culture and expectation of information sharing
  • Drive adoption of continuous improvement of value-adding technologies and information systems
  • Support improved patient pathwaysthrough the development and installation of electronic referral templates for referral to selected Specialist Outpatient Departments at North West Area Health Services
  • Support return communications of triage status, expected wait time and booking when available
  • Develop electronic diagnostic imaging requests

All templates will include a placeholder for the National Healthcare Identifier, and will use the Healthcare Identifier Service when available.

Approach

  • Refine and test e-referral template
  • Determine readiness and interest of all practices for secure messaging
  • Commence requirements definition for electronic diagnostic imaging request template
  • Liaise with vendors – Global Health, Regional Imaging Limited, Practice software  eg Best Practice, Medical Director
  • Develop Change Management program to support implementation and training
  • Work with NeHTA for National Healthcare Identifier implementation and local healthcare providers

Further information

For further information please contact:

Project Manager: Colleen Cheek
Rural Clinical School
Hospitals' Campus, Brickport Road
Private Bag 3513 TAS 7320
Phone: 03 6430 5922 Mobile: 0439 928 051 Fax: 03 6431 5670
Email: Colleen.Cheek@tas.edu.au

Project website : http://fcms.its.utas.edu.au/healthsci/rcs/newsdetail.asp?lNewsEventId=3969