eHealth

It’s perhaps unsurprising that health features highly in the discussion supporting the implementation of broadband networks.  Health utilises 10% (and growing) of the national economy.  Broadband (including wireless) networks are merely an enabler of health services and the costs are small in comparison with the costs of personnel and equipment which use those networks.  Nevertheless, I would contend that eHealth enabled by broadband networks is mandatory for a sustainable health sector.  At present it clearly isn’t if costs continue to grow as a proportion of the economy.  No-one would deny the need for nurses, doctors and hospital beds however continual increases are unsustainable.  With 85% of Australian employment already in the services sector, further increases will be at the expense of other important parts of the economy.

The increased application of ICT in the health sector (through eHealth) represents the best opportunity for sustainable health services across the entire population and meeting community expectations for improving health services.  eHealth initiatives inevitable involve change and this is a significant barrier to adoption.  ITEE College Board members are faced with significant opportunities in the health sector and these need to be addressed with solutions which can be adopted readily by all stakeholders (health service users and providers)

Through current initiatives of the Department of Health and Ageing and the National eHealth Transition Authority (NeHTA) including the roll out of Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) we are gradually putting together the systems essential for supporting improving health outcomes through better information availability about individual patients and supporting more efficient processes.  Much of the national Health agenda focuses on hospital care however primary health care is where the major benefits of eHealth can be achieved.  By providing assistive technologies, which enable people to self care or receive care in the home or in residential care, there will be improvements for most patients through remaining in a familiar environment, pressure on high cost hospital beds will diminish and, for those suffering chronic illness, the need for repeated hospital admission will be reduced.  ICT systems are being implemented to, for instance, help reduce clinical errors, manage medication and reduce over servicing all leading to savings which can be applied to improving overall healthcare with obvious benefit to all.  Much more needs to be done as these initiatives are often isolated.

The challenge we face is diverting short term resources to investment in systems and process change which will deliver long term benefits.  The opportunities for ITEE College members whether in information systems, telecommunications or electronics are significant however it needs a long term view not short term stop gaps which rely on increasing recurring costs. 

Engineers must lend their support to investment in long term initiatives for implementing new systems and processes in the health sector otherwise the nation will be unable to sustain expectations for good health services for those who already have them and for those who don’t yet have them.  In this, the Year of Humanitarian Engineering, it is worth noting that investment in technology for primary health care is likely to deliver far reaching benefits to all communities.

Comments

[G West]

"As engineering practitioners, we use our knowledge and skills for the benefit of the
community to create engineering solutions for a sustainable future. In doing so, we
strive to serve the community ahead of other personal or sectional interests."(members code of ethics)

eHealth has been heavily condemned by medical practitioners, civil rights groups and privacy academics. The concerns are valid. Technology should be for the good of the community and not used to assist an oppressive government to humiliate those who are unwell. I would urge the board to examine these concerns and reconsider its position.

[STD Test Labs]

Bottom line is that, as you said, "The challenge we face is diverting short term resources to investment in systems and process change which will deliver long term benefits.".