The Tasmanian government recently launched a four-year strategy to transform outpatient services within its public health system.
of Tasmania Transforming outpatient service strategy find ways to shorten wait times, improve communication, and modernize processes.
One focus of the strategy is ICT and virtual care capabilities, whereby a Digital Outpatient Management System and an electronic referral system will be made available to “modernize and streamline processes.” service provider.”
“They will help address existing business process inefficiencies, improve communication channels between consumers, physician referrals, and clinic staff, and enable deployment of new outpatient care model,” said the Tasmanian Department of Health.
These projects will also allow easier communication with outpatient services; an option to update personal information electronically; an option to conveniently schedule appointments; and access care through virtual care and telehealth. Information technology will also lead to increased administrative efficiency and reduced double processing.
The Ministry of Health noted: “Information technology will play an important part in supporting the transformation of outpatient services.
WHY IT IMPORTANT
Each year, the Tasmanian Health Service (THS) provides approximately 600,000 visits across 46 different specialties. These include specialist diagnostic evaluation, screening and treatment; ongoing management of chronic and complex conditions; and care before and after admission. About 10% of these services are new appointments for people on the outpatient waiting list while the remainder are for services that do not have a waiting list, such as oncology services and for review and manage people who need ongoing care or monitoring.
By 2024, the state government projects the population of Tasmania over 70 years old to increase with the group aged 85 and over expected to grow by 85%, from around 12,600 in 2020 to around 23,000 over the next two decades. This demographic shift is expected to impact future demand for health services, especially demand from people with chronic illnesses.
The four-year strategy allows THS to respond to this expected increase in demand by devising strategies that will build the capacity needed for the future.
TREND TO BIGGER WOMAN
The release of the outpatient service transition strategy after the launch of the Tasmanian government The 2022-2023 Digital Health Transformation Program earlier this year with help from consulting firm KPMG. The state government has also invested A$150 million ($100 million) over four years to upgrade its digital health infrastructure.
Meanwhile, since 2019, the Tasmanian Department of Health and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Health have been working to establish and implement an e-Referral system statewide. The system uses HealthLink SmartForms for primary care users with the Hospital Referral Management System. It is currently being adopted by all GPs using Best Practice and Medical Director Clinical, more than 125 private specialists, and an increasing number of allied health organizations. The broader rollout in the Northern region of Tasmania will begin next week, 22 November, while the rollout of outpatient services in the North West region will begin early next year and in the regional region. southern region by mid-2023.
