Brisbane South
HealthConnect is a system of electronic health records that aims to improve the flow of information across the Australian health sector. It involves the electronic collection, storage and exchange of consumer health information via a secure network and within strict privacy safeguards.
HealthConnect trials test the network in a 'live' setting and have helped to identify the preferred model for HealthConnect. The national implementation of HealthConnect, to begin in South Australia and Tasmania, will have minimal impact on the trials which will continue as planned to inform the implementation process.
The Brisbane Southside HealthConnect trial will focus on adults with diabetes who often need to visit a range of different health care providers to meet their health care needs. The trial is being developed in close collaboration with Queensland Health, Brisbane South and Brisbane Inner South Divisions of General Practice, and the General Practice Computing Group (GPCG). The GPCG is making a substantial funding contribution in view of the pivotal role GPs will play in creating and using electronic health records.
Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting an estimated 4.3% of the Australian adult population. The need to improve the management of diabetes has led to the development of a standard care pathway. This pathway is based on a care team approach across settings and details essential management and referral steps. The trial will improve communications to enable key patient information to be shared among health care providers in the consumer's care team.
The trial will also be an opportunity to test openEHR, a public domain electronic health record architecture. The openEHR software for the trial is being developed by the Brisbane-based Distributed Systems Technology Centre.
What does the trial aim to do?
The trial seeks to:
- evaluate the application and possible benefits HealthConnect could bring to people with a specific chronic disease;
- contribute to the further development of a HealthConnect model; and
- trial openEHR as a potential component of HealthConnect.
How will the trial work?
The trial will give members of the consumer's care team access to key health information that may come from a visit to a GP, dietitian, podiatrist, diabetes educator or another health care encounter. During the trial, health information will be collected and stored in electronic form in a secure storage facility. Each time that person visits a member of their care team, that information could be quickly accessed to assist in their care, but only with the consumer's consent.
The information contained in HealthConnect will include a series of event summaries, briefly describing individual health events (rather than the comprehensive notes that a doctor may keep as a record of a consultation). Information about a consumer will be collected with their consent and could include:
- family medical history;
- allergies or medical alerts;
- presenting problem/reason for visits and diagnoses;
- diabetes risk factors and diabetes monitoring information;
- medications and diabetes related pathology results;
- general observations and diabetes specific observations; and
- treatments and procedures.
Consumers will also have access to their own HealthConnect record and will be able to add information, for example family history, lifestyle information, and potentially, blood glucose and blood pressure readings.
Access to an individual's health information will only be permitted with their consent and the information will be collected and controlled by strict security, privacy and consent frameworks. HealthConnect trials are underpinned by a national privacy framework based on the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988.
When will the trial begin?
The trial is expected to begin in late 2004.
Who can participate in the trial?
All people aged 18 years and over with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes will be eligible to participate. The trial will involve health care providers from the southern suburbs of Brisbane, including GPs, private allied health workers, local hospitals and community health staff.
Participation in the trial will be voluntary and participants may withdraw from the trial at any time.
Further information
For general information about HealthConnect contact the HealthConnect Program Office:
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
MDP 25, GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601
fax: (02) 6289 8295
email: healthconnect@health.gov.au