The news items below are included in our eHealth NSW 2022 Year in Review newsletter.
Microsoft Teams and MedSync available to clinical staff statewide
This year, eHealth NSW launched the MedSync mobile app within Microsoft Teams which helps clinicians to securely share clinical information, upload images and collaborate ‘on the go’.
Developed in partnership with Microsoft, MedSync is a new function within Microsoft Teams that allows clinicians to upload images to a statewide system. Clinicians can use Microsoft Teams as a simple, convenient and efficient way of securely sharing clinical information and to collaborate.
International knowledge sharing promoted through KLAS peer guidance visit
The future of digital health innovation was front of mind as part of a series of collaborative workshops held across NSW Health in 2022.
Led by KLAS Research, a US-based healthcare IT data and insights company, the five-day workshop focused on electronic Medical Records (eMRs) and incorporated knowledge sharing from international colleagues including the UK’s NHS and Intermountain Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente from the USA.
Following on from research undertaken for eHealth NSW in 2021, the event provided further opportunity to collaborate and discuss best practice initiatives. There was a focus on lessons learnt from international colleagues to inform and support the exciting transformation ahead as part of the introduction of the Single Digital Patient Record.
The workshop opened the door to statewide and international knowledge sharing which will help to set benchmarks for improving clinician and patient experiences. Local attendees included staff from eHealth NSW, the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC), the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI), NSW Pathology and LHDs.
Click here to learn more about the workshop.
eMR Connect sets stage for digitally enabled health system
While the end of 2022 marks the final chapters of the electronic Medical Record (eMR) connect program, much has been achieved to support a digitally enabled health system. As the largest paper to electronic medical records conversion in Australia, over 100,000 users now open more than 6.75 million digital patient charts each week.
Delivered over the course of six years, eMR Connect has transformed access to vital health information for clinicians, resulting in ongoing improvements and increased use of eMRs across NSW.
It has led to the introduction of a range of enhancements including the roll out of eMeds in 200 facilities, fluid infusion management in over 180 facilities as well as the comprehensive care plan, advance care planning and managing deterioration modules.
The stage is now set for NSW Health’s next digital record evolution - the soon to be introduced Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR).
ICU’s benefit from continued roll out of eRIC and eTOC
More NSW Health clinicians than ever before can now access the custom-built electronic Record of Intensive Care (eRIC) application to help manage and care for critically ill patients. Since launching in March 2022, 1279 critically ill patients have had their care recorded via the eRIC Neonatal ICU system with five sites now live statewide.
eRIC for adult patients was also introduced to South Western Sydney LHD with Liverpool hospital going live in November 2022 and Bowral planned for December. It’s now used at 26 hospital adult ICUs across the state.
Continuity of care continued to remain a priority during 2022 with the ongoing roll out of the electronic Transfer of Care (eTOC) application. The system supports the digital transfer of medication orders between different systems when patients are moved from an ICU to the general ward.
In 2022, 13 hospitals across six LHDs went live with eTOC, further reducing the chance of medication transcription errors and speeding up patient transfers between intensive care and wards.
CDNP a cornerstone for change at NSW Ambulance
The Clinical Device and Notification Platform (CDNP) project, a cornerstone of the partnership between eHealth NSW, NSW Ambulance and the Agency for Clinical Innovation, has rapidly progressed throughout 2022. This initiative will see 1400 ambulances equipped with state-of-the-art electrocardiograms/defibrillation devices.
It will also implement a notification platform that will provide paramedics and emergency physicians in small, rural hospitals with improved access to advice from specialists in major metropolitan hospitals.
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan said the new cardiac notification platform would help streamline the transfer of patients from ambulance into hospital by improving communication between emergency departments and clinicians.
“The cardiac notification platform assists with the transfer of clinical observation data from ambulances and regional hospitals to tertiary hospitals so we can provide more rapid and effective treatment to patients with suspected heart attacks,” Dr Morgan said.
Delivering the CDNP project is a key component of the State Cardiac Reperfusion Strategy and will help save lives for patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome. The CDNP pilot is planned to start in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Ambulance Zone ahead of the statewide rollout throughout 2023.
Earlier this year, eHealth NSW also supported NSW Ambulance in delivering an upgraded computer aided dispatch (CAD) system. Launched in May 2022, the project delivered vital updates to this mission critical software that is used to log emergency Triple Zero (000) calls and dispatch ambulances to patients.
The software enhances tools for clinical assessment and triaging, to support NSW Ambulance staff in responding to the 3500 requests for emergency medical care it receives on average each day.