Central Coast residents will benefit from a $2.1B plan by the NSW Government to support digital healthcare services, making it easier for people to keep track of their medical records or to source professional health providers.
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Victor Dominello, says that having a single state-wide clinical information system improves patient safety, continuity of care and saves people having to provide their information repeatedly to different NSW Health services.
“Digital solutions are solving today’s problems by ensuring customers remain well informed and engaged with their healthcare providers,” he said.
The Digital Restart Fund is providing seed funding for many eHealth initiatives and the NSW Government has allocated $2.1B across four years to invest into digital transformation projects through the DRF.
Some of the new digital programs include the NSW Health App, the Digital Baby Book and the Single Digital Patient Record.
The DRF has already committed $166.7M to the new Single Digital Patient Record, which will mean clinicians can better support patients and their health no matter where they are in NSW.
“The NSW Health App will allow customers to access critical health information as well as relevant NSW Health services from the convenience of their phone,” Dominello said.
“It will also help customers consider other healthcare services available in the community.
“The Digital Baby Book initiative has been supported with $4.97M from the DRF and $53.7 to develop its clinical interface.
“This enables busy families with the digital tools needed to stay on track with childhood vaccinations, development information and checks.
“An improved Mental Health Access Line is in the works, along with a new virtual care strategy aimed at accessing health and wellbeing support with the tap of a button.
“Future initiatives include the eReferral Hub, which has also received $3M in DRF funding, and will act as an electronic dashboard for referrals allowing consumers to view and be notified of their outpatient appointments.”
Dominello said NSW’s nation-leading work to introduce a digital COVID-safe check-in system made it easier for people to visit venues safely and access essential services during the COVID-19 restrictions, while also supporting NSW Health contract tracers.
“Since 2020, almost 200,000 customers opted-in to receive their COVID-19 test result via the Service NSW app, with about 1.9 million results provided,” he said.
“Whether it is a COVID-19 test result, school vaccinations or using digital innovations to foster healthy, resilient, thriving families and communities, the NSW Government is here to make life easier and health services more accessible for everyone in the State,” Dominello said.
Source:
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Victor Dominello