Australia’s health system generates enormous volumes of data. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), IHPA and state entities have the expertise to provide strong leadership in the use of data for the purposes of population health insights, resource planning and policy development, all vital areas that governments must continue to appropriately resource. However, carriage of whole-of-system leadership for effectively and efficiently using data to guide shared decision-making and clinical care, in real time, throughout a person’s care pathway is unclear.
The design of alternate models of care, including the delivery of virtual care, must be considered in this context. In order to effectively adopt technologies in the provision of virtual care, a vision is needed for a digital infrastructure that can facilitate seamless interfaces and real-time interoperability of devices and data streams.
States and territories have digital health strategies that provide a shared direction for investment in the information and communication technology (ICT) architecture required for transforming the way health care is delivered. They are increasingly moving to single electronic health records for the hospitals and health services in their jurisdictions, recognising that capturing and effectively using clinical information is important in ensuring quality, safe and sustainable healthcare services.
