Tasmania
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 Tasmanian trial focussed on adults with diabetes. It began in October 2002 in the Clarence Municipality and expanded in mid 2003 to include the whole of Southern Tasmania. Health care providers participating found that improved access to health information has the potential to enhance patient care and prevent adverse medical events.
What did the trial aim to do?
The Tasmanian trial tested a prototype version of HealthConnect in a contained community setting. The trial aimed to improve the quality of health care by ensuring important clinical information was available when and where it was needed.
How did the trial work?
During the trial, health information was collected, with a participant's consent, and stored in electronic form in a secure storage facility. Each time a person visited their doctor or other participating health care professional, their health information was quickly accessed electronically to assist in their care - but only with the participant's permission.
The information contained in HealthConnect included 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). When joining the trial, consumer participants nominated the health care providers they wished to have access to their HealthConnect record. They also nominated those health care providers from whom their key background information could be gathered. Background information collected included:
- family medical history;
- allergies or medical alerts;
- diagnoses and procedures;
- diabetes risk factors and diabetes monitoring information for the past two years; and
- diabetes related pathology results for the past two years.
In an Australian first, the trial provided consumer participants with the ability to view their own electronic health record via a secure internet connection. With training, they were able to input information, such as blood sugar levels and observations, to their own HealthConnect record.
The second phase of the trial saw electronic decision support incorporated into the HealthConnect system. This allowed health providers and consumers online access to a diabetes task list that advised them when certain tests were due. In addition, doctors automatically received prompts in their desktop practice management software advising when patients' tests were due. The second phase also investigated the integration of MediConnect as the medications component of HealthConnect. This enabled health providers to access medication information at the point of treatment.
A national privacy framework based on the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 underpins HealthConnect trials. The Tasmanian trial has been approved by the Southern Tasmanian Health and Medical Human Research Ethics Committee and the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Committee and reviewed by the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner.
How long did the trial run?
The trial commenced in October 2002 and concluded in November 2004.
Who participated in the trial?
All people aged 18 years and over with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes were eligible to participate in the trial. Approximately 900 consumers took part in the trial.
Health care providers taking part in the trial included: general practitioners, Royal Hobart Hospital, pathology services, endocrinologists, community pharmacists, private and public podiatrists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, diabetes educators and anaesthetists.
All participants were able to withdraw from the trial at any time.
Early findings
Some early evaluation findings from the Tasmanian trial include::
- the concept of HealthConnect is technically feasible;
- a simple consent process is required to ensure all information shared between health care providers has consumer consent;
- HealthConnect has a high-level acceptance by consumers;
- face-to-face interviews, and a recruiter experienced in dealing with consumer health issues, are important in successfully encouraging consumers to participate; and
- trials need to provide adequate time and resources for recruitment.
A final evaluation report has been prepared and is expected to be published shortly.
Further information
For further information on the Tasmanian HealthConnect trial, click on the links below:
Tasmanian trial newsletters
Tasmanian consent, privacy, complaints and consumer information documents
Tasmanian Media Releases
Alternatively, contact the Tasmanian HealthConnect trial office on 1800 798 079 or email: healthconnect@dhhs.tas.gov.au
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