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Western Australia

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WA is in the early stages of establishing a HealthConnect presence, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Funding Agreement with the Commonwealth in mid 2005. The objectives stated in the Funding Agreement are:

1. Preparing for Local HealthConnect Operating Presence and Governance Systems: identifying the requirements and direction for a HealthConnect presence in the State; identifying relevant governance and stakeholder management structures; identifying relevant change management methodologies and plans; identifying relevant evaluation methodologies and plans; identifying relevant consumer marketing and promotions.
2. Preparing for a HealthConnect Implementation Planning Study (IPS): identifying requirements for the conduct of an Implementation Planning Study to inform initial HealthConnect development and implementation in the State. The IPS will include consideration in conjunction with the Commonwealth of planning issues for the Commonwealth’s Eastern Goldfields Regional Reference Site project on its completion.

WA Health’s progress against these objectives to date is:

• Appointment of the project executive (Project Sponsor, Project Director and Project Operational Manager);

• Initiation of a governance framework, including formation of a Project Control Group;

• Appointment of a Senior Project Officer; and

• Collaboration in Eastern Goldfields Regional Reference Site project.

The nature of the project and initial HealthConnect presence is yet to be fully established. It is important however that WA HealthConnect aligns with WA Health’s other strategic initiatives, and in particular its rolling 10-year $335 million Information Management Capital Investment Plan to integrate and upgrade state-wide clinical information systems.

WA has invested in and continues to develop expertise, enablers and infrastructure for the implementation of a State-wide electronic health information communication and records storage capability for information under its control. WA is committed to progressive compliance with HealthConnect standards including those planned to be issued by the National e-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA). Initiatives under the control of WA Health at present include:

• Universal Medical Record Number (UMRN): the UMRN operates across the Perth metropolitan area and is being progressively extended for implementation into rural areas.

• Morbidity Databases and Registers: These provide longitudinal linkage of clinical encounter at the identified level across the State.

• Data Linkage: Data linkage provides the tool for longitudinal linkage of clinical records at the identified level.

• Clinical Results Repository: Metropolitan Perth clinical pathology results are maintained.

• Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and Radiology Information System (RIS): PACS and RIS have been implemented in Perth metropolitan sites with selective implementation in rural centres.

• Patient Administration and Clinical Information Systems (PAS/CIS): WA Health has one PAS/CIS solution implemented in the Perth metropolitan area and one in the rural areas. These are planned for replacement by one state-wide PAS/CIS in the IM&ICT program below.

• Telehealth: Videoconferencing services are provided to 140 points in metropolitan Perth and regional WA for clinical, training and administrative purposes. Online clinical Information services are also delivered across the network.

• HealthDirect: HealthDirect is a free 24 hour, seven day a week state-wide health advice line. HealthDirect provides an immediate professional triage and referral service. HealthDirect is a State and Federal Government initiative.

• State-wide Telecommunications Infrastructure: WA Health has a single, wide area network (WAN), which services all metropolitan and rural health facilities under single management. Broadband capacity has recently been delivered to 53 of the 95 rural towns that the WAN services.

• ICT Support and Management: Operational management of core applications, firewalls, security, directory services and infrastructure is provided through an ICT shared service in a consortium arrangement between WA Health and outsourced providers.
  

The WA Health 10-year IM Capital Plan work program, mentioned previously, commenced planning activity in 2004/05 financial year, and organises projects into two main streams:

• Clinical informatics, and

• Infrastructure

The Clinical Informatics Program consists of the following major elements:

• Program Management;

• State-wide Directories;

• Patient Administration System Replacement;

• Clinical Information System;

• Clinical Support (including Pharmacy);

• Ambulatory Systems (including Community Health); and

• Other Systems and Integration.

The Infrastructure Program consists of the following major elements:

• Networks and Communications;

• Data Centre Consolidation;

• Infrastructure Systems and Services;

• Client Device and Systems; and

• Security.

The State may identify further initiatives contributing to the implementation of HealthConnect and will continue to identify and pursue initiatives intended to establish implementation in compliance with HealthConnect standards.

For more information on progress visit www.health.wa.gov.au