The Challenge
Clinical information is captured in many different systems across NSW Health. Currently, healthcare teams must access several platforms to get a comprehensive patient history. These include various electronic medical record systems, patient administration systems and laboratory information management systems. This makes it difficult to quickly access comprehensive information about a patient.
Some of these systems are also not connected statewide. This means different care teams must manually request patient information from other local health districts if a patient is visiting multiple health services. Data is routinely collected but is often unable to be shared or integrated in real time. This can create data duplication or information gaps that could affect providing the best patient care possible.
To solve these challenges, a single source of clinical information is needed.
The Plan
The SDPR program will transform the digital systems NSW Health staff use every day to deliver care. All NSW Health care teams, no matter where they work, will securely access the same information about a patient in real time from one source.
The SDPR will replace several existing systems that are widely used across NSW Health services. This includes 228 public hospitals, 600+ community health centres, 60 pathology laboratories and 150+ pathology collection centres. The highly secure system will house medical, pathology and administration records all in one place.
The SDPR will be delivered collaboratively and in partnership with local health districts (LHDs), specialty health networks (SHNs) and other NSW Health organisations, facilitated by eHealth NSW and NSW Health Pathology. Input will be sought from clinicians, consumers, patients and technical experts. Epic Systems, a world-leading software company specialising in the design and delivery of electronic medical records systems and associated technologies, has been contracted to supply the technology platform for the SDPR.
SDPR will first be available in the Hunter New England LHD, followed by a phased rollout throughout NSW. The rollout schedule for the SDPR will be planned in consultation with LHDs, SHNs, and other partners.
The overall implementation timeline is anticipated to be 6 years (2023-2029/30). This includes the design and build of the system, and statewide rollout.
Chief Executive, eHealth NSW,
Chief Information Officer, NSW Health
The Outcome
For the first time in NSW, healthcare teams will be able to use the same digital clinical system to access patient information, record the care they provide, order diagnostic tests and manage medications, no matter which public hospital or community healthcare facility they work in.
The key features of the SDPR will include:
- Holistic, real-time patient information accessible from a single system
- Continuity of information provided within a single system across all NSW Health services
- Improved integration with medical devices and other clinical systems
- Intuitive, user-friendly design that, for example, pre-fills records based on historic patient data
- Secure access to patient records and clinical workflows via mobile devices
- Simplified clinical workflows and streamlined technical support
- Robust privacy and security functionality
- Increased analytics, dashboards and reporting to support ongoing enhancement of health services and patient safety.
The Benefits
Having one statewide system will support consistency and continuity of care, particularly for patients receiving care across multiple NSW Health settings.
For patients visiting NSW Health services, it will mean:
- A reduced need to recall and repeat health information
- A consistent experience regardless of where they seek care
- More informed discussions with their health care providers, so they are better able to make decisions about their own health.
For NSW Health clinicians, the SDPR will mean:
- Easier, faster and more consistent access to comprehensive, up-to-date patient records in a single secure system
- Enhanced clinical safety and quality, with less duplication of care across sites and providers
- Less admin, with streamlined record-keeping.
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