CHF Projects - Electronic Health Records Project 2005-06

The CHF 2005-06 electronic health records project will help CHF to identify consumer priorities for further work to ensure that electronic health records contribute to safe good quality healthcare. Consumers have also shown an interest in e-health as a tool that they can use in their own health care to achieve their best health outcomes.

Consumers want different parts of the health system and different health care professionals to communicate effectively, to be sure that the right health information is in the right place when it is needed. Many consumers and CHF members see opportunities for using e-health systems as a tool for making sure information is available when and where it is needed, by them and their health care providers. They also want to know how e-health systems will operate and how their information will be used.

This project builds on the CHF 2004-05 Electronic Health Records Project and earlier work to ensure that e-health initiatives are designed to improve health outcomes for consumers.

Aim

The aim of the project is to ensure there is a high level of consumer input and engagement with the development and implementation of electronic health records systems in Australia.

Objectives

The project objectives are:

• To support informed and effective consumer representation, that is well-linked with health consumer organisations and their networks, on state and national committees for the development, implementation and oversight of national electronic health record initiatives.
• To provide Secretariat support to consumer representatives on electronic health records committees associated with the work of the Australian Health Information Council (AHIC), National E-health Transition Authority (NEHTA) and HealthConnect.
• To support and continue to develop links with local and state-based consumer representatives and organisations.
• To communicate more widely with consumers about electronic health records to build consumer knowledge of the current situation and future directions.
• To work with consumer representatives and the Department of Health and Ageing to establish a standard and consistent approach to consumer representation at a state and national level, including selection processes that involve consumers and remuneration.
• To continue to provide input to the Department of Health and Ageing and the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council consultative processes in relation to issues associated with electronic health records, such as consent and privacy, the development of unique patient identifiers, content of records and policy regarding secondary data uses.

Expected Outcomes

The expected outcomes for the project are:

• Greater understanding and awareness among health consumer organisations and their networks about e-health consultations and developments.
• Informed and supported consumer representatives on national and state electronic health records committees.
• Established networks between consumer representatives on national electronic health records committees and local electronic health record implementation committees.
• Adoption of a standard approach by state and national Governments to consumer representation on electronic health records committees at a state and national level.
• Strategic consumer input to government consultations on national e-health issues including those related to consent and privacy processes, the development of unique patient identifiers and secondary data uses.
• Published reports disseminated to members and their networks and more widely available.
• Final project report for dissemination to health consumer organisations and their networks and others contributing to the work of the project.

Guidance for the Project

A Steering Committee oversees the project and provides a reference point for the Policy Officer to facilitate the successful implementation of the project.

The Steering Committee includes:

• a CHF Governing Committee member,
• a representative from a State implementing electronic health records initiatives,
• a representative of older people,
• a representative of an area with major privacy concerns,
• a representative of rural and remote health consumers,
• the additional appointment of a State-based representative with strong links to their Health Department.

Funding

The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing agreed to fund the CHF 2005-06 Electronic Health Records Project. In order to maximise the effectiveness of the project for CHF and the Department, CHF invited a Departmental representative to act as an observer on the project Steering Committee, to facilitate two-way communication and be responsive to emerging issues. The Departmental representative also acts as a liaison officer between CHF and the Department, providing a point for contact and providing information.