Aged care prepares for eHealth

Sharing knowledge is crucial to help the rollout of eHealth records into the aged care system, according to Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler.

Software vendors are now invited to help prepare the aged care sector for the introduction of the eHealth records system before it launches this July. Vendors will ensure facilities across the nation are given the right information, software and tools to adopt and operate the eHealth record system.

An eHealth record, containing a secure online summary of an individual’s healthcare information, will, over time, have the “potential to significantly improve and transform” the way healthcare is delivered to older Australians.

Mr Butler says as health issues become more prevalent as a person ages, eHealth records will help to “better coordinate” care and identify potential health problems to eliminate the “tyranny of distance”.

“Participating vendors and providers will share their learning and experiences from the project with the broader aged care sector. This will enable others to benefit from the insights of these early adopters,” he adds.

It is estimated the eHealth records system’s medication management capability could help save up to $5,000 lives annually, avoid more than two million primary care and outpatient visits, 500,000 emergency department visits and 310,000 hospital admissions every year.