ISSUE 1 JULY 2014
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The new eHealthNT Happenings will be a regular publication, which over time will provide updates on all eHealth initiatives in the Northern Territory. The first issue provides information on the project to transition registered consumers and healthcare providers from the My eHealth Record service to the National eHealth Record System (also known as the personally controlled electronic health record or PCEHR system).
This publication is produced by eHealthNT in collaboration with the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) and the Northern Territory Medicare Local (NTML).
Transitioning to the national eHealth record system
The Northern Territory Department of Health is leading a project to transition from My eHealth Record to the National eHealth Record (the M2N Transition Project).
In the Northern Territory, the Department is working closely with its eHealthNT collaboration partners, AMSANT and the NTML in preparing for the transition.
A major focus of the work to date has been on undertaking the technical changes needed to connect the clinical information systems used by the Northern Territory Department of Health and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) to the national eHealth record system.
The Australian Government has provided $140 million in 2014-15 to support the operation of eHealth and the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR), while it continues to work with stakeholders on approaches to the recommendations of the PCEHR review undertaken in late 2013, to determine how best to deliver on the intent of the review. It is committed to supporting improved productivity across the health sector and greater convenience for providers and patients. The Australian Government is also committed to a considered and consultative approach to the design and implementation of future functionality growth in the system, and will work closely with the health sector on all future functionality roll-out.
The Northern Territory Department of Health is scheduling its implementation towards the end of 2014. This will be supported by:
new policies and processes relating to use of the national eHealth record.
an electronic process to assist in registering consumers for the PCEHR, similar to the assisted registration tool in the My eHealth Record.
communication activities to ensure our stakeholders are informed.
training activities to ensure stakeholders have the knowledge and skills to use national eHealth record effectively before having access to the national system.
In the lead up to these changes being implemented, there will be frequent communications to ensure you are aware of any new policies and processes.
Introducing the National eHealth Record System
The national eHealth record builds on from the successful implementation of My eHealth Record
Having a national eHealth record means that even if your patients are travelling interstate for healthcare, or attend a private GP or specialist in
Important Dates
The Northern Territory Department of Health is scheduling its
implementation of the National eHealth Record towards the end of 2014.
In the lead up, there will be frequent communications to ensure stakeholders are aware of any new policies and processes.
Training activities will be
scheduled to ensure stakeholders have the knowledge and skills to use national eHealth Record effectively.
Watch this space for soon to be advertised activities, their dates, times and locations.
Statistics
Consumers can already register for their own national eHealth record.
The figures below show the number of consumers already registered up to 31 May 2014.
National Northern Territory
1,589,841 21,167
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the NT that is participating in the national eHealth record system, their healthcare information can still be accessed when needed for their care
The national eHealth record will grow in content and functionality over time, in a similar way to the My eHealth Record implementation.
eHealthNT will provide stakeholders with training and support through the transition journey to the national eHealth record system
Changes Summary
ACIS and PCIS will be upgraded to enable sending of national standard clinical documents to the My eHealth Record and the national eHealth record. Communicare already has this capability.
ACIS and PCIS users will use a new Clinical Portal to view both My eHealth Record and national eHealth record information for their patients.
Communicare users will view this information using Communicare.
There will be some changes to clinical document names which will bring us in line with national standards.
A key principle guiding transition planning and design has been to ensure that the clinical value of the information available through the national eHealth record matches that of My eHealth Record. Full functionality of My eHealth Record will be maintained until this is achieved.
As such, My eHealth Record will remain a consumer’s primary eHealth record until we are able to send and view an equivalent range of clinical information through the national eHealth record.
After the changes to ACIS and PCIS are implemented, new registrations for the My eHealth Record will be phased out, being replaced with new registrations for the national eHealth record. Providers will have the ability to assist their patients to register for the national eHealth record.
Just like the My eHealth Record, the PCEHR will include an electronic assisted registration process.
Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
AMSANT has been working with its member services to assist Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to register for and be able to participate in the national eHealth record system, and to inform and assist consumers to register for the national system. All 26 member services (covering 59 health centres) have registered for the national eHealth record system. Many of these services have the most recent version of Communicare, enabling connectivity with the national system, installed but not yet turned on.
Northern Territory Medicare Local
The NTML’s eHealth Team has been introducing the national eHealth record system to consumers and private healthcare providers across the Northern Territory. The focus has been to resource and support general practices, specialists, allied health professionals, aged care facilities and community pharmacies to connect with the national eHealth record system, and to inform and register urban consumers. To date, 56% of private general practices (covering 79% of the GP workforce) in the Territory have registered to participate in the national eHealth record system.
More details will be provided over the coming months. To stay informed, regularly visit the eHealthNT Publications site where communications will be published.
Websites
eHealthNT
www.ehealthnt.nt.gov.au Aboriginal Medical Alliance NT www.amsant.org.au
NT Medicare Local www.ntml.org.au My eHealth Record www.myehealthrecord.com national eHealth record www.ehealth.gov.au
Glossary
ACCHS – Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Services ACIS - Acute Care Information Systems (includes CareSys, Clinical Workstation, etc used in NT Public Hosptials)
AMSANT – Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
M2N Transition Project – project to transition from the My eHealth Record service to the national eHealth record system NTML – Northern Territory Medicare Local
PCEHR – Personally Controlled eHealth Record or national eHealth record
PCIS – Primary Care Information System
