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Northern Territory Department of Health Library Services Historical Collection
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_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ @_H_w_rns_El1VICES C:..5./ ... ./1996 r - - - - SPECIAL INFORMATION BULLETIN for reporting progress on THS CASEMIXCLINICALAND
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY.
THS PROJECT SERVICE AGREEMENTS
To implement the THS Casemix Clinical and Resource Management Project Implementation Plan, individual
Project Service Agreements have now ( been negotiated and signed by all NT Hospitals, Regional Directors and the Deputy Secretary Program Development and Planning. The Project Service Agreements specify roles, responsibilities and activities that all parties have to fulfil to successfully implement the major projects contained in the THS Casemix Clinical and Resource Management
Mcribeth Fletcher, Acting Di.strict Hospital Manager - Gove, and Graham Symons, Deputy Secretary,
signing the Project Service Agreementfor GDH
(
Project.
The major Casemix projects are now entering the critical implementation phase and significant activity will be taking place over the next two months within hospitals and individual project teams to meet overall implementation deadlines.
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DEPARTMENTAL REPORTING
As Casemix Based Funding for NT Hospitals will be in effect from 1 July 1996 with associated Casemix Performance Agreements, the
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Benchmarks where appropriate.
Contpage8 ....
MAY'S EDITION
includes ....
•... IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS OF THE
THSCASEMIX CLINICAL AND
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECT AND THE
INFORM4ftON TECHNOLOGY
STRATEGY
UPDATES . . . . UPDATES . . . . UPDATES
PATIENT COSTING PROJECT UPDATE
A comprehensive evaluation of the support Trendstar has been ordered Departmental Managers in hospitals tendered systems for the Patient and will be installed by early May during May to discuss the detailed
Costing System was undertaken 1996. content and format of information to
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McDonnell Information Systems Sy~fu(Q'fi.l$~*~~~tal · completed and the 1996/97 Financial emerged as the most suitable system Info~ij§y!l!~ijf(li.:JS) and the Year's general ledger has been to meet THS requirements. The Pathofogy$y~ij:i. Ptoject team established in GAS.
computer hardware and software to personnel WilFt:k<meeting with
PATIENT COSTING PROJECT TEAM:-
THS Project Manager Casemix Business Analyst Hospital Systems Consultant Hospital Business Analyst Hospital Business Analyst Gregory Moo
Steward McDermid Jack Luchjenbroers Trevor Langcake Chris Burrows Kathy Fletcher Mark Hooper
McDonnell Information Systems - Project Manager
McDonnell Information Systems - System Interface Consultant
GREG Moo -TIIS PROJECT MANAGER - TELEPHONE 8999 7708
... ---~---
HOSPITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM PROJECT
The Project Team is full steam ahead and giving their utmost to keep the Project on track for a successful implementation.
The project continues to remain on schedule with the installation of the universal workstations in all Hospitals having commenced from of 22 April 1996. In line with this rollout, basic PC training has commenced in all areas except Gove. Training in Gove will commence on 6 May 1996.
Last week HIS Training Staff and the Project Team devoted the week to the handover of the CareSys Test System.
Jane Mathews from Cardinal
conducted workshops which involved
a screen by screen demonstration of new features of CareSys. This has given everyone involved first hand knowledge of changes and increased functionality and an appreciation of the benefits of the new windows type environment.
Acceptance testing commences on Monday 29 April and will continue across all Hospitals throughout the month. Acceptance testing will be conducted by the Project Team, HIS Training Staff and Key Users.
Acceptance testing will be used as a means of developing a user group with good knowledge of the system who can pass on this knowledge to their colleagues in the work place. This
will also assist in ensuring that the full functionality of the system is realised and utilised.
Training for CareSys will commence for all staff in June 1996 and will extend into July to ensure all staff have the opportunity to attend. It is important to schedule the training close to the implementation time as possible so it will be fresh in the mind at the time of the actual implementation The training system will be available on the PCs that have been installed and will give people the opportunity to practice after the training sessions. IT Training will keep you posted on session dates and times.
Should you have any further queries please do not hesitate to phone Co RA LIE CHRIS TIE, PROJECT MANAGER, on 8999 7 482 or JAN ROBBINS, HOSPITAL SYSTEM MANAGER, on 8999 2973. '
Just to let you all know that the PMl/CULL Report identified 420,000 reeords that can be removed from the System. By the time this edition of Horizons is published these records
PMI/CULL PROJECT
will have been removed and there should be evidence of improved performance in the systems query/search ability.
KAREN WESTON, the Project Officer, will be xoonitoring the situation closely and if you have any queries regarding the PMI please do not hesitate to phone Karen on 8999 5469.
"CARDINAL CLIPPINGS"
1a1
WHO ARE CARDINAL AND WHY ARE THEY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S NEWSLEITER?
As Cardinal's Health Services Manager for Australia, I am pleased to identify Cardinal as a New Zealand technology company with offices in Australia, the U.K. and U.S.A.
Our core businesses are the development of software technology (i.e. software development tools), the provision of information systems for selected industries, including health care, and a shared systems processing facility called the Cardinal Utility. In relation to Territory Health Services, we assumed responsibility for supporting the MediLinc HIS after withdrawal of the previous supplier.
( SECONDLY, WHAT IS CARESYS?
CareSys is the latest version of the software previously known as MediLinc. Since being installed in the Northern Territory in 1991-2 there has been extensive development of new user functions as well as wider implementation internationally. For example, CareSys is being used by a·
variety of hospitals in Canada, Jordan, South Africa, Poland, DENIS SULLIVAN - CARDINAL HEALTII CARE SERVICES
Hungary, the Czech Republic and New Zealand.
SO WHAT'S NEW ABOUT CARESYS?
Space doesn't. allow for detail, but continuing development has evolved the system from a focus on patient
administration toward a focus on patient care. A major strategic advantage is the ability to use CareSys for Care Givers to communicate with patient services functions, such as Laboratory, Medical Imaging, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and so on, then to aggregate patient services requests with appropriate examinations and reports into an integrated patient record.
Over time, this will enable clinical personnel to have a single point of access to patient information, and use this information for patient summaries, quality assurance and research. THS have forward thinking in using the HIS for patient care, with integrated Infection Control an example of
"best practice" in this area.
We in Cardinal look forward to working with your user groups to capitalise on this major new project.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING UNIT
The manager of the unit, Kerry Grace finally arrived and has taken up residence in Staff Development Services, Building 4, RDH.
(_~e Information technology Training Unit:
• Kerry Grace Manager
•Michelle Braham Training Co-ordinator (Central)
• Narelle Anderson IT Trainer
• Pia Zaknich IT Trainer
• Margaret W ardrope IT Trainer
• Sandra Downing
• Fiona Thomson
•Jo Schmidt
• Judy Parkinson
HOSPITAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Training Co-ordinator (Top End) Administration Officer
IT Trainer IT Trainer
The first phase of training for
ms
users in the use of a Personal Computer (PC)/mouse has commenced in all hospital sites. A number of key users have been identified for each work unit and they will be responsible for disseminating infonnation to users within their unit.OFFICE SYSTEMS
We are aware that many users are waiting on clarification as to what is happening with office systems training ( eg Word, Excel, Access etc). It is proposed to outsource all office systems training and at this stage, Executive have yet to finalise a policy on funding such courses.
For further information or to discuss any issues in regard to IT training contact KERRY GRACE 8922 8886
UPDATES . . . . UPDATES . . . . UPDATES
.DEVELOPMENTAL AMBULATORY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (DACS)
In late 1994 the Commonwealth asked the Australian Classification System or DACS.,w.:~=~pved.
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clinical priorities for research and clinical implications of additional splits for some specific MDCs such as separate classification and payment options; and consulting with recognitic:m=Qf~, importance of ambulatory visits in the relevant external organisations. . .. ::::=:=: : '\, tr1.seathtme fi_e···
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tAtorannotgeethaoft DACS The aim of the Casemix Ambulatory Classiu¢lff#:i# • , / .... ~~Proj~ was defined as ''to develop a cl'¥!.~W.cati&F~§5tem adcijtj~Jlata.items will be collected in the piloting of for implementation across Australia in=lm:~bulatory the diSS'ification to allow further testing and refinement care settings with the primary design focus being on .. ·.·.·· of the system.
utilisation for payment purposes". The initial
thinkiµgpfU
'\There are a number of issues still to be resolved including the sub-committee resulted in the establishment ofa t '.
the need for a separate Emergency Department:rn.:::i::~!:'!~& ••
utlieroons~~_lj
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wh?The sub-committee examm«.ta ~~ber of existinit~~it . \
based and longitudinal Mfi'bdiatory systems and concluded It is expected that the consultants to conduct the pilot that none were appropriate for the Austrajjiw.: setting. The . study will be appointed shortly and will be asked as an
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CAROL BEA VER was that the ~nly''Mfbifilt'fi~e was to ci6fi~6''.fi.om first
principles a m~[f.Q{Jl clinically meaningful ambulatory syStem. Hence, tHi¥Developmental Ambulatory
DIRECTOR - HEALTII ECONOMICS & RESOURCE ALLOCATION POLICY UNIT TELEPHONE 8999 2966
_______ ...
._..____ _
QUALITY OF PATIENT CARE IN
A
CASEMIX BASED FUNDING ENVIRONMENT Improvement in quality outcomesfor patients and access to health services within the Northern Territory form part of the goals of the Casemix Funding System.
Territory Health Services (THS) staff can be assured that patient care will not be compromised . under a Casemix Based Funding System.
During the development and now as we move closer to
implementation, Hospitals have been strongly encouraged to establish Quality Indicators based on National Standards to ensure benchmarking occurs. This is important to enable comparisons to be made against other
hospitals. Operations North and Central will be expected to
proyide a monitoring role in relation to ensuring hospitals work within their respective Performance Agreements. These agreements are detailed and serve to provide the operating guidelines on which the service provision of each hospital will be based.
The Clinical Initiatives Project is one of the four major projects of the THS Casemix Clinical &
Resource Management Project.
This project provides advice and makes recommendations to the Casemix Steering Committee, about a number of sub-projects to further ensure quality outcomes.
It is anticipated that by . heightening our awareness to
variances to a patients expected recovery phase, together with
increased monitoring and documentation, satisfactory patient care outcomes can be assured. This may be evidence(
for example through a decrease m the returns to hospital within 28 days of a hospital admission, or reduced returns to operating theatre for the same diagnosis.
Both of these form part of the National Quality Indicator requirements. Staff must not lose sight also of the fact that the Hospital Funding Model itself forms a small part of the overall
implementa~ion plan for the implementation of Casemix. It is envisaged that within two years a population based funding model will be in place to ensure a continuum of health care provision according to need.
JAN MARLBOROUGH - HEALTH ECONOMIC POLICY IMPLEMENTATION MANAGER- TELEPHONE 8999 2895
(
(
THS
CASEMIX CLINICAL AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECTCLINICAL INITIATIVES
The Clinical Initiatives project consists of three sub-projects which are Clinical Data Collections, National Quality Indicators and Outcomes Measures, and Clinical Care Practices. Significant progress has been made in a very short period of time and the cu"ent status is described below.
CLINICAL DATA COLLECTIONS
MORBIDITY CODING AUDIT Funding has recently been approved to conduct a morbidity coding audit at all NT hospitals. Such an audit should take about a month and is expected to be concluded before 1st July 1996.
CODING CHECKS
Janine Cassidy, Head Coder -Patient Services, Alice
<:
Springs Hospital has taken over the job of writing a(./ SW.istical Analysis System (SAS) program to carry out . ~gchecks.
.·:· ..
::·:JNmoDucr10N OF EP1so:DMOF CARE
.. ... CLASSIFICATIONSY'lit.&f ..
... :.::::::::.t~::··· :~;~::;~~ :~~~;:::~::m~~:::
CLINICAL CARE PRACTICES Two pilot projects are currently being set up to examine ways of improving information flow between hospitals and the community. These are follows:
1. A project to examine the feasibility of introducing automatic notification of primary carer8 regarding admission and discharge of patients
2. A project to examine the feasibility of producing computer assisted discharge summaries.
DR JAMES JARVIS - PROJECT MANAGER - CLINICAL INmATIVES PROJECT
TELEPHONE 8922 8258
HOSPITAL CASEMIX CO-ORDINATORS . .
,ALICE SPRINGS HOSPITAL
The Project Service Agreement between ASH General Manager, Joyce Bowden; Regional Director, Dr Ross Brandon; and Assistant Secretary, Program Development and Planning, Graham Symons has now been signed. This service agreement will be distributed for staff to observe the objectives and expectations that have been set down for the term of the project.
Along with other hospitals work has now commenced on the Hospital Performance
Agreements. ASH and Central Region staff are very keen to participate iil the development of these agreements.
The second half of April has seen a great deal of activity in Hospital Clinical and Patient Information Systems projects with the completion of cabling at the hospital and a consultation/review of
ms
support in order to set up an appropriate ongoing support system.
In addition, the delivery & installation of Personal Computers {PC's) to workplace areas was due to commence Wednesday 24 April and a PC training program for staff was organised to coincide with the rollout of PC's. Bookings for training have been slow
but should increase as the installation date looms.
Our own ASH Information Technology (IT) trainers have been up in Darwin developing their knowledge of CareSys ready to start teaching staff from mid June.
A work group on Discharge Summary issues has focussed this month on tackling some of the specific local concerns of senders and recipients for example, the process which occurs from time of writing a discharge summary to the time it arrives at required destination. The participation of people across almost all the sender and receiver points has been valuable and is very much appreciated.
During the week of 29 April 1996 Kay Cook and Jan Marlborough will be in Alice Springs to present a
variety of information sessions and group workshops for staff at ASH across all streams as well as
Regional Finance, Supply and Salaries staff. In addition to updating Casemix knowledge for staff, there will be work on local strategies to facilitate the implementation of the new Funding Model.
BRONWYN TAYLOR-CASEMIX Co-ORDINATOR TELEPHONE 8951 7727 OR 8951 7777 & PAGER
KATHERINE HOSPITAL .
'With the date for implementation fast approaching, staff from all areas have requested ongoing education
& support. Staff are gearing up for the many
changes that will shortly take place with Patient Master Index {PMI) Cull and the IllS/CareSys changeover.
Workshops are currently being organised with the Education & Marketing Team for May 15-17 1996.
Kay Cook and Jan Marlborough are busy structuring workshops to cater for the needs of each department.
During 23 April - 9 May 1996 training is available for all staff . on the use of Personal Computers in preparation for the introduction of CareSys and the universal work station.
Visits have been organised for Dr Paul Douglas, New Medical Superintendent and Dr David Bell to liaise with Dr James Jarvis and Dr Johll Harrison to discuss Casemix recommendations for clinical initiatives and discharge summaries. Dr Jarvis ·and Dr Harrison haV,e offered ongoing support to medical staff with workshops and discourses being planned for May and June 1996.
Nursing staff are showing a positive spirit towards Casemix with a request for further involvement in Casemix implementation; specifically representation at the Casemix Implementation Committee meetings held fortnightly.
HEATHER GRAVE - Telephone 8973 9233
GOVE DISTRICT HOSPITAL
The first goal has been achieved, GDH has signed the Project Service Agreement and was the first hospital to do so.
The Casemix Steering Committee has a new Chairperson - Kelly Bradley, Radiographer, has accepted the position. Kelly recently transferred to GDH from Terinant Creek. As the commencement date for Casemix, 1 July 1996, draws near our steering committee now meets on a fortnightly basis.
Staff have requested that case scenarios be built into the marketing and education workshops proposed to be held in May 1996 and they also suggest that more ( ·n depth information as to how it will effect individual
staff.
Our patient services section has had staffing problems for the past month due to sick leave and ARL, as a result Mary Durkley has been unable to code any of April's discharges. Hopefully all will be back to normal next week.
We have now received the latest draft of the Hospital Funding Model but still have concerns regarding the costing contained in the HFM.
GDH welcomes the opportunity to be funded on its outputs however, it is imperative that all extraneous costs pertaining to output from Gove as opposed to other hospitals are identified and funded separately.
JUDITH HUTCHINGS -TELEPHONE 8987 0263
TENNANT CREEK HOSPITAL
A new server is to be installed in Tennant Creek Hospital as part of the Communications Network and Design Project.
Bruce Dunn will be visiting here next week to interview key users of the IIlS/CareSys regarding ( the level of support and training required.
The Hospital Project Service Agreement has been signed and we are now looking at the Performance Agreement.
Dr Pearson has returned from his time at Katherine Hospital where he acted in the Medical
Superintendent's position for ten weeks. Thanks to Dr Neil Menylees for covering Mike's position and being such a pleasure to work with.
The morbidity coding has been completed up to the end of February 1996.
Jan and Kay will be in Tennant Creek on 8, 9 and 10 May to conduct more training for staff for the introduction of Casemix.
CareSys Training Sessions are as follows:
PC & LAN Introduction
Key Users Testing for CareSys CareSys Training
Change over date
6 to lOMay 13 to 17May 10 to 14 June 1 July
VERA MCMAHON - TELEPHONE 8962 4306
7
MARKETING AND EDUCATION
.... Contfrompage 1
MARKETING
&
EDUCATION CO-ORDINATORSKAY COOK
MARKETING & EDUCATION CO-ORDINATOR
TELEPHONE 8999 2749
JAN MARLBOROUGH HEALm ECONOMIC POLICY IMPLEMENTATION MANAGER TELEPHONE 8999 2895
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTING
The Director, Business Information Management, and the Marketing & Education Co-ordinator will be liaising with areas concerning these requirements. If you have not been contacted and would like to be involved in this process, or believe you have been omitted, please don't hesitate to initiate contact with Business Information Management.
STEPHEN Moo - KAY COOK
DIRECTOR BUSINESS INFORMATION MANAGEMENT - TELEPHONE 8999 2847 MARKETING & EDUCATION CO-ORDINATOR - TELEPHONE 8999 2749
Any Conments?
Any Q.iestion.s ? Cootact Kay Code
on8m2749
