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iRAD

Under the Microscope – iRAD network expands to 70 care locations

06 December 2021

The iRAD (Integrated Real-time Active Data) network expanded to 70 care locations across South Western Sydney and Western NSW in 2021, including general practices, specialists and the Campbelltown Hospital Emergency Department.

In this month’s Under the Microscope, we’re updating general practice about the progress of iRAD and the benefits of using the innovative software for a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of your patient’s medical history.

In the lead up to the Christmas holiday period when more patients may seek care in Emergency Departments, please promote the benefits of iRAD to your patients.

 

What is iRAD?

SWSPHN has led the development and localisation of iRAD, the first software of its kind in Australia. iRAD shares important patient information between hospitals, general practice and other connected healthcare professionals. The information is shared only with a patient’s consent and is secure, timely and accurate.

iRAD provides a comprehensive picture of the patient’s medical history and can be accessed 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week, enabling informed decision-making and high-quality patient outcomes.

 

What are the benefits of iRAD?

SWSPHN’s iRAD team has been working with practices to deliver benefits during these challenging months.

The benefits include:

  • improved productivity and efficiency while improving patient outcomes
  • information delivered to clinicians in a usable and actionable format at the point of care
  • a reduction in repeated testing for patients
  • support for patients with communication barriers, low health literacy, those who attend multiple practices, after hours clinics and patients with complex care needs
  • excitement at South Western Sydney being the first in Australia to receive its benefits

Without iRAD, sharing information within the care team can be difficult and slow.

iRAD is an easy-to-use solution which delivers digitised healthcare to our general practices. Feedback from users consistently shows health information can be accessed instantly, and that iRAD delivers the real-time integration other healthcare organisations want. 

 

What information is available through iRAD?

Information available on iRAD includes:

  • medications
  • allergies
  • pathology and radiology results
  • immunisations
  • conditions (current and past)
  • consultation dates
  • documents
  • COVID-19 positive alerts

 

Who is using iRAD?

iRAD participating practices include those from the following areas:

  • Bargo
  • Bossley Park
  • Bowral
  • Bradbury
  • Camden
  • Campbelltown
  • Glenfield
  • Fairfield
  • Fairfield West
  • Hilltop
  • Ingelburn
  • Leumeah
  • Macquarie Fields
  • Moss Vale
  • Narellan
  • Oran Park
  • Picton
  • Raby
  • Rosemeadow
  • Tahmoor
  • Thirlmere
  • Villawood
  • Wilton

 

What is planned for iRAD?

SWSPHN began fast-tracking the expansion of iRAD in early 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic after a successful trial of the software in four of our region’s general practices.

The ultimate vision is for an interoperable health IT ecosystem which strives to deliver better care to communities, lowering healthcare costs and leading to value-based care.

SWSPHN will continue to lead this innovative program to support delivery of the right care, at the right time to the right patient.

Successive phases of the project are being planned for 2022 and 2023.

To find out more about iRAD, visit our website or watch these videos.