Completed CHF Projects - Electronic Health Records Project 2004-05

The Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia (CHF) Electronic Health Records Project will improve communication with health consumer organisations about electronic health records and will contribute to consultative processes in relation to consent, electronic security and privacy. Links will be developed between consumer representatives involved in national health policy development around electronic health record systems and those involved in electronic health records at a local level.

The project has been funded by the Information and Communications Division of the Department of Health and Ageing for 12 months to ensure effective input from health consumer organisations and their networks to the development of electronic health records systems.

Aim

The project aims to ensure effective input from health consumer organisations and their networks to the development of electronic health records systems that meet the needs of Australian health consumers.

Objectives

The Project objectives are to:

• Improve communications and engagement with health consumer organisations about electronic health record developments and consultation;
   
• Undertake specific consumer consultations and provide input to the Department of Health and Ageing and the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council consultative processes in relation to consent processes, electronic privacy and security, including unique patient identifiers and secondary data uses;
   
• Support informed and effective consumer representation on national committees for the development, implementation and oversight of national electronic health record initiatives that is well-linked with health consumer organisations and their networks; and
   
• Develop links between consumer representatives involved in national health policy development around electronic health record systems with those involved in electronic health record system implementation at a local level.

Expected Outcomes

At the conclusion of the project it is anticipated that:

• Health consumer organisations and their networks will have a greater understanding and awareness of consultations and developments in relation to electronic health record systems;
   
• Consumer representatives on relevant national committees will be informed and supported;
   
• Links between consumer representatives on relevant national health policy and local implementation committees will have been established;
   
• Strategic consumer input to government consultations on electronic health records issues will have been provided;
   
• A final project report will be disseminated to health consumer organisations, their networks and others contributing to the work of the project.