More than 2,500 delegates from across NSW Health and industry converged on the International Convention Centre for the 10th annual HealthShare NSW and eHealth NSW Expo on 22 November.
With a theme of ‘Experience’, the Expo was officially opened by NSW Health Secretary Elizabeth Koff, who looked back on NSW Health’s digital transformation since 2009, when the first Expo was held.
“We have come a long way,” said Ms Koff. “What we do is impressive and digital health innovations are absolutely critical to our public health system.”
Moreover, the work of eHealth NSW and HealthShare NSW “plays a fundamental role in the care we deliver as a system for patients,” Ms Koff said.
Emotional speech highlights quality of care
That was put into sharp focus during an emotional talk by Craig Hopper, whose wife Tove suffered a major heart attack but defied the odds and survived thanks to the exceptional care she received at Royal North Shore Hospital.
“That had a life-changing impact on my life and the lives of our three children,” Mr Hopper said in a deeply moving on-stage chat with Susan Pearce, Deputy Secretary, Patient Experience and System Performance, NSW Health.
“We received the most amazing care. It’s important for (NSW Health) staff to understand how fantastic you all are and the difference you make. You changed everything for us and I will forever be grateful.”
Clinical systems showcased at Expo
eHealth NSW Chief Executive Dr Zoran Bolevich said the 10th Expo was a perfect opportunity to celebrate the organisation’s achievements in improving the patient, staff and customer experience since being formally established in 2014.
“Rolling out clinical systems such as the electronic medical record to corporate platforms such as StaffLink – and keeping the data within both systems secure 24/7 – is just a fraction of what we do,” Dr Bolevich said.
“They are a small selection of the transformative services and programs that we offer, enabling not only a better patient experience but also a better clinician and staff experience.”
Demonstrations of cutting-edge eHealth NSW initiatives and projects took place in the packed exhibition hall, where the Speaker Lounge featured short talks from experts across the clinical, corporate and infrastructure divisions of eHealth NSW.
Expo wrapped up with a keynote presentation from award-winning documentary-maker and advertising guru Todd Sampson as well as presentations of the Chief Executive Awards.
Lyn Packer, Director, Clinical Applications Services, took out the CE Award for Leadership, while the Information Security Services team and the RIS-PACS Program shared the CE Award for Collaboration and Partnerships.
