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Architecture Documents
Archived document
HealthConnect architecture
The HealthConnect architecture defines the business, structure, processes, business and information resources and computing and communications technology infrastructure that will make up the overall HealthConnect system. The Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework has guided the development of the HealthConnect architecture. Work to date has included development of two major aspects of the architecture; the first version of the Business Architecture and the preparation of a draft Systems Architecture. HealthConnect Business Architecture.
HealthConnect Business Architecture
The Business Architecture answers the question "what does the system need to be able to do?" and defines key requirements such as:
- The kind of information to be held on HealthConnect.
- The types of services to be provided under HealthConnect.
- The need for a seamless collection of information from providers so they are not required to perform additional work.
- The need to provide customer access.
- The need to provide high-speed delivery of information from HealthConnect.
After a lengthy development process including public consultation version 1.0 of the Business Architecture has now been released. To view the Business Architecture and the outcomes of the earlier public consultation process click on the links below:
HealthConnect Business Architecture version 1.0 (PDF 533 kb)
HealthConnect Business Architecture consultation process
The HealthConnect Business Architecture is a key component of the HealthConnect research and development (R&D) project. The Business Architecture answers the question "What does HealthConnect need to be able to do?"
The draft Business Architecture is a detailed paper available as a complete document or in four parts for ease of printing and distribution. The Overview document provides a summary of the key elements of the Draft HealthConnect Business Architecture.
Business Architecture Consultation Process
In September 2001 the HealthConnect Board approved the development of a Business Architecture for HealthConnect. Following a number of iterations of development, which involved the HealthConnect Program Office, the Architectural Working Group and other experts, the Board cleared version 0.7 of the HealthConnect Business Architecture for wider circulation and consultation in April 2002.
Version 0.7 of the Business Architecture consisted of two documents:
1. The Draft HealthConnect Business Architecture - An Overview, a summary document outlining the general principles involved (27 pages, A4 portrait format); or
2. The HealthConnect Business Architecture, the complete version (156 pages, A4 landscape) consisting of:
- Part 1 - the HealthConnect context v0.7;
- Part 2 - the HealthConnect processes v0.7;
- Part 3 - the HealthConnect technical and functional requirements v0.7; and
- Attachment A - Extract from the draft consent policy discussion paper;
Copies of these documents can be obtained at "copies".
The consultation process involved:
1. Distribution of the documents widely;
2. Posting of the documents to the project website;
3. Notification of the process to people and organisations on our master stakeholder list;
4. Information sessions in every State and Territory; and
5. Meetings with key stakeholder groups
A total of 38 submissions were received. These arrived as emails with or without attachments, facsimiles, and by mail. A number were delivered by all three means. Three respondents asked for their response to be treated as confidential.
The submissions were classified by the primary role of the respondent or their organisation (including confidential responses). Twenty four percent of the responses came from government organisations. Twenty one percent from people or organisations associated with the IT industry. Providers or provider organisations made eighteen percent of submissions. Consumers contributed one in eight of submissions. The remaining twenty four percent of submissions came from academics, informatics groups and others.
A report on the submissions is being compiled and will be made available on this site in due course.
The following table lists the respondents. Where an electronic version of the submission exists and permission has been granted for publication a link to the document is available.
HealthConnect Systems Architecture
The following documents form the bulk of the HealthConnect Systems Architecture version 0.9.
HealthConnect Architecture Overview version 0.9 (PDF 1016 kb)
Presents a high-level overview and conceptual model of HealthConnect.
HealthConnect Systems Architecture version 0.9 (PDF 843 kb)
Defines the HealthConnect Systems Architecture from the three design viewpoints of Data, Application and Technology. Provides an in-depth description of the HealthConnect Systems Architecture.
HealthConnect Implementation Strategy version 0.9 (PDF 565 kb)
Describes an implementation strategy for establishing HealthConnect as a national system of compatible summary health records systems.
Architectural Principles Draft Version 0.9 (PDF 259 kb)
Defines and describes the principles underpinning the architecture.
Financial Business Model Version 0.9 (PDF 417 kb)
Describes options for a HealthConnect financial business model and how HealthConnect might operate. It also explores issues like ownership of the assets and data, funding sources for implementation and ongoing operations.
Business Architectural Models Draft Version 0.9 (PDF 410 kb)
Documents the business models derived from the Business Architecture (see above). The UML (Universal Modelling Language) models were prepared using Popkin's System Architect modelling tool. The document provides instructions on how to navigate the System Architect encyclopaedia (see below).
System Architect Encyclopaedia Web
The business models derived from the Business Architecture (using UML).
Current Systems & Technology Draft Version 0.9 (PDF 382 kb)
Describes systems and supporting technology currently in use in the health sector.
Standards Assessment Draft Version 0.9 (PDF 328 kb)
Reviews relevant standards that impact/enable HealthConnect.
Next Steps Version 0.9 (PDF 274 kb)
Identifies the activities that are required to develop the HealthConnect architecture to a level of detail sufficient to guide future implementation activities.
HealthConnect Report on public responses to the draft Systems Architecture (PDF 392 kb)
Analysis of the responses received from the public consultation on the HealthConnect Systems Architecture V0.9.
The following documents, referenced in the draft Systems Architecture, are also available for information.
Health Online: A Health Information Network for Australia (PDF 8700 kb)
This report of the National Electronic Health Records Taskforce published in July 2000. The recommendations of the taskforce led to the initiation of the HealthConnect project.
HealthConnect Interim Research Report
The report comprised three volumes: Volume 1, which provides an overarching view of the Project achievements and findings to date, and recommends a way forward for this important national project; and Volumes 2 and 3 which contain a number of research reports, case studies and evaluation reports as background materials.
HealthConnect Business Architecture
Describes the business requirements for HealthConnect. It was the starting point for the development of the Systems Architecture. Version 1.0 is included in Volume III of the HealthConnect Interim Research Report.
For further information on the Systems Architecture, contact the National e-Health Systems Branch via email healthconnect@health.gov.au.
Draft Systems Architecture and Interim Research Report Consultations
The HealthConnect Program Office has released two landmark publications in the development of e-health in Australia for public consultation: the HealthConnect Interim Research Report and the Draft Systems Architecture Report version 0.9. The documents were launched jointly by the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator the Hon. Kay Patterson, and the Tasmanian Minister for Health and Human Services, the Hon. David Llewellyn MHA, on 26 September 2003 in Hobart.
The Interim Research Report brings together the key findings to date, 20 months into the Project, and discusses possible future directions for HealthConnect. The Draft Systems Architecture version 0.9 describes in detail what HealthConnect could look like and represents the first steps in an iterative process leading to a nationally agreed architecture for HealthConnect.