We successfully worked with stakeholders at all levels, and developed both a program work with financial costing, and a newly designed organisational structure. This will help enable the shift towards an Electronic Health Records and Electronic Medical Records in Western Australia.

Project Overview

WA Health seeks to drive the adoption of a range of new healthcare capabilities over the next ten years. These capabilities will improve how people, processes and technology can work together to deliver a more patient centred, safer, equitable, effective and efficient health system.

 

One of the key initiatives in implementing these outcomes is the shift towards an Electronic Health Record (HER) and Electronic Medical Record (EMR).

Velrada were engaged for a twelve week period to help develop these critical technology and business plans for the next 3-4 years.  We successfully worked with stakeholders at all levels, and developed both a program work with financial costing, and a newly designed organisational structure. 

 

Furthermore, we worked closely with a wide range of senior stakeholders including the consumer council and GP's to build initial momentum for the program.

 

This key strategy work was successfully completed within a fixed budget and timeframe.  The program plan and architectures are now being used for the ongoing development of work in this area.

Client Requirements

WA Health required a program plan, high-level solution architecture - and framing for a way forward in a complex environment of local, state and national drivers.

 

In addition, the program plan development needed to:

• Enhance engagement and collaboration across the key stakeholder groups
• Drive a shared understanding of the electronic health record and its associated benefits across the Western Australian community
• Articulate how health processes can change with the implementation of priority solutions
• Support change from a range of perspectives, including consumers, providers and healthcare managers

 

The EHR program needed to cover the following areas:

• Electronification of patient information
• Technologies to facilitate the transition to a WA Electronic Medical Record
• Unique identification of patient and providers to facilitate the sharing of information
• Ability to transfer information across the health sector using state-wide systems and standards
• Standardised clinical terminology set
• Ability to participate in the National Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record.

Our Solution

The program plan builds a framework for delivery and aligns to other key programs within HIN that were identified in the ICT Strategic Plan (2007); WA e-Health Business Case; Deloitte's ICT Strategic Plan 2010 and WACHS ICT Strategic Plan 2010.

The plan

• Outlines a program of delivery from 2010 - 2014
• Builds on a framework of delivery within the eHealth reform program
• Capitalises on the programs of work that are underway, or planned, as part of the WA eHealth Business Case and ICT Strategic Plan including PAS; New Core; and the Portal and Interoperability initiatives
• Emphasises early identification of 'gap projects' where there are no plans for moving from paper to electronic
• Is a business transformation program and needs to be supported by adequate change management strategy
• Presents a pragmatic approach, recognising the acknowledged journey and the 'ragged edge of change' of the implementation
• Will change as further information and other constraints and opportunities arise

 

The Roadmap takes into consideration:

• The importance of key enablers such as Healthcare Identifiers - particularly the development of an Enterprise Master Patient Index approach and solution
• The importance of the Scanning Medical Records Project in the journey
• The opportunity to introduce efficiencies through workflow and process change
• The need to link and integrate with NEHTA for a national perspective
• The different operating models that will be required to deliver patient care in existing and new facilities - and also the need for different implementation strategies based on a particular sites readiness.

 

The program plan has been developed through:

• Engagement with key stakeholders;
• Review of documentation;
• Review of current and proposed programs of work that support Health reform; and
• Review and analysis of lessons learnt in other jurisdictions and internationally;

Business Outcomes

Velrada consultants successfully worked with WA Health clients to deliver and develop the schedule, work packages, governance structure, outline solution architecture and financial costing model over the engagement.

 

Furthermore, we were able to develop a program plan that focused on the delivery of benefits and outcomes - in particular those including:

 

Health Outcomes

• Improved quality of care to patients through the delivery of timely, comprehensive and reliable access to patient information
• Continuity of health care through the secure sharing of information across the whole of the health sector
• Better integrated care and ability for earlier intervention leading to improved patient outcomes

 

Organisational Outcomes

• Improved efficiencies in business processes for all staff interacting with medical records
• Improved system integration across country and metro
• Reduction in physical space required to store paper records
• Alignment to the Federal Government's initiative for the PCEHR
• Alignment to the WA Health requirement for paper-light environment in new facilities
• Support current WA Health reform initiatives such as Activity Based Funding and Four Hour Rule
• Location independence for clinical coding and improved timeliness of medical record coding

 

Financial Outcomes

• Reduced duplication of effort leading to increased efficiencies of staff utilisation
• Financial savings over time due to the reduction in physical record storage

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