NEHTA opens doors to Model Health Community

NEHTA and the ACT Health Directorate have launched the Model Health Community, a site designed to demonstrate how ehealth improves communication between healthcare providers and the provision of healthcare services.

The Model Health Community is open for tours for a week from December 12, and is located in the Old Executive Area of Canberra Hospital.

The demonstration uses an example of a patient from Victoria who becomes ill during a holiday in far North Queensland. Under the model presented in the Model Healthcare Community, the patient presents at a local doctor’s surgery. His healthcare identifier (HI) is retrieved, and his electronic healthcare record accessed by the consulting physician.

The physician makes a preliminary diagnosis of gallstones, and an e-referral is made for a general surgeon, who subsequently confirms the diagnosis, and arranges for surgery.

Following surgery, the patient is e-referred back to his hometown doctor, and an e-discharge notice is also sent. A prescription for pain relief is issued, and when presented at the local pharmacy a barcode is scanned and the prescription retrieved from the Prescription Exchange Service. The pharmacist then dispenses the prescribed medicines.

All of the processes and procedures, along with medicines prescribed, are recorded in the patient’s PCEHR, where healthcare professionals can access them in the future with the patient’s permission.

Appointments for tours of the Model Health Community can be made here.