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 how people experience and deliver care across the state, providing benefits for the people of NSW and the NSW Health workforce regardless of their location and role.
It will bring the state healthcare system together, unifying access to patient clinical information in one view. This will help to provide connected, transparent and safe care for any person at any public healthcare setting statewide.
The SDPR program will achieve this by partnering with NSW Health pillars, public health services, staff, clinical leaders and community members who support or interact with the statewide health service. This will include a statewide integration of electronic medical records (eMR), laboratory information management system (LIMS) and patient administration system (PAS).
SDPR will be delivered under the leadership of the Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority (SDPRIA). The Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority (SDPRIA) has been established to work in partnership with Local Health Districts, Specialty Networks, eHealth NSW, NSW Health Pathology, shared services, Pillar agencies, the Ministry of Health and the EPIC teams to lead the implementation of the SDPR program.
SDPR will be first available in the Hunter New England LHD and Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, followed by a phased roll out schedule across the state. The overall implementation timeline is expected to be completed by 2028. This includes the configuration of the system and roll out.
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.
Related solutions
The Electronic Medical Record (eMR) system replaces patient paper charts & forms used in hospital wards, outpatient…
A single online destination where consumers can access digital health services.
myVirtualCare is NSW Health’s videoconferencing platform that provides virtual access to healthcare from anywhere i…
