Digital health Archives | Page 7 of 8 | South Western Sydney PHN

17 January 2023

The need for healthcare providers to connect to each other safely and securely is greater than ever.

Clinical information shared about a patient via post, fax or email is not secure because of the risk of interference.

Secure messaging supports the delivery of safe, seamless, secure and confidential information across healthcare providers.

In this feature, we look at why you should use secure messaging and how it works.

What is secure messaging?

Secure messaging allows the delivery of patient clinical documents electronically between health professionals and organisations using a secure, encrypted system.

It enables the receipt of clinical documents by practices, directly into your conformant clinical information system software.

Information can include referrals, reports, pathology and radiology requests, results and discharge summaries.

Why should practices use secure messaging?

Secure messaging minimises the burden of manual and paper processes and is a timely and efficient means for sending and receiving clinical information, freeing up staff to complete other necessary tasks and reducing the costs of administrative tasks such as paper for scanning and faxing, postage and staff hours.

Some benefits of secure messaging include:

Integrates directly with clinical software systems
Improved patient matching
Critical patient information is more readily available and accessible
Reduces the chances of communication breakdown
Send/Receive audit trail
Receive priority clinical information in real time

How does secure messaging work?

For your practice to send and receive secure messages, you’ll need to have installed a conformant clinical information system and be registered with one or more secure messaging providers.

Overview:

Step 1: The sending organisation creates an electronic message addressed to a service or practitioner, using an address book from within their clinical information system or an external service directory.

Step 2: The message is encrypted and passed through the sender’s secure messaging provider to the receiver’s secure messaging provider.

Step 3: The receiver’s secure messaging provider receives the message on behalf of the receiver, decrypts the message and passes it to the receiver’s clinical information system.

Step 4: The receiving clinical information system routes the received message to the intended service or practitioner and alerts the sender that the message has been successfully received.

How can we help?

Navigating the various secure messaging platforms can be both time-consuming and confusing. We can help you:

ensure your digital health accounts are set up and ready for secure messaging
assess the pros and cons of different secure messaging providers
develop or consider policies related to secure messaging facilities
make contact with a provider to register for a secure messaging product

If you’d like our help, contact our Digital Health team on digitalhealth@swsphn.com.au or 4632 3000.

Factsheets

Secure messaging user guide

Secure messaging fact sheet

Secure messaging frequently asked questions

Secure messaging implementation guide

17 January 2023

Are you having trouble keeping track of your electronic prescriptions (ePrescriptions)?

The Department of Health and Aged Care has developed the My Script List (MySL), a list of all the ePrescriptions which you have been issued, including the medication name, the dosage and the number of refills.

MySL is perfect for patients with multiple scripts because you’ll no longer need to handle multiple tokens on your phone to show the pharmacist. You can walk into any pharmacy, give consent for them to access your script list, and have that pharmacy dispense your medicines.

Learn more:

Watch this video:

Download this factsheet:

MySL for patients and carers

17 January 2023

Most Australian pharmacies are now registered to receive electronic prescriptions, making it easier to dispense and keep records of scripts. Electronic prescribing is another step in the journey towards a more modern, connected healthcare system.

What is an ePrescription?

An electronic prescription is a prescription which is created and sent electronically, rather than on paper. This means that instead of writing a prescription by hand, a healthcare professional can use a computer or tablet to create and send the prescription directly to a pharmacy. This can save time and reduce errors, as well as allowing for prescriptions to be sent remotely.

Token

A token is a small piece of data which can be used to access electronic prescriptions. Tokens are typically used to ensure only authorised healthcare professionals can access and view a patient’s prescriptions. Tokens can be sent via text message or email and can be used to access the patient’s prescriptions from any device which has internet access.

My Script List

My Script List (MySL) is an Active Script List (ASL) developed by the Department of Health and Aged Care. It is a list of all the prescriptions which have been issued for a patient, including the medication name, the dosage and the number of refills. The list is updated in real-time and can be accessed by authorised healthcare professionals, including GPs and specialists, to ensure the patient is receiving the correct medications and dosages. This also allows for better coordination of care between different healthcare professionals.

Who can access My Script List?

MySL is perfect for patients with multiple scripts as the patient no longer needs to handle multiple tokens on their phone to show the pharmacist. The patient can walk into any pharmacy, give consent for them to access their script list, and have that pharmacy dispense their medicines.

Learn more about the benefits of electronic prescriptions via this video.

How do I set up my medical practice for ePrescribing?

MediSecure and eRx are  the two Prescription Exchange Services (PES) available in Australia.
Practitioners should ensure they are registered with eRX or MediSecure and have ePrescribing activated in their existing clinical software. 
Provide your patients with  information on MySL and assist them to register if your clinical software is enabled. Alternatively advise patients to register via their local pharmacy.
For further information on ePrescribing download FAQ for Doctors
Contact your software provider for information on prescribing ePrescriptions and registering your patients for MySL in your clinical software.

Would you like more information?

Information for prescribers Information for patients and caregivers

If you have questions about setting up your practice for ePrescribing, please contact our Digital Health team:

DigitalHealth@swsphn.com.au

06 December 2022

NSW Health is introducing several initiatives which aim to streamline the processes of applying for an authority to prescribe a controlled drug under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW), following the implementation of SafeScript NSW.

The first stage is the release of new authority application forms. The new forms are quicker to complete and require less information and supporting documentation from prescribers.

The new application forms are PDF editable and can be accessed on the NSW Health website.

In the initial period following the release of the new forms, both new and old forms will be accepted.

From 1 February 2023 old application forms will no longer be accepted.

NSW Health in partnership with eHealth NSW is also developing an online system to manage authority applications which will be available in 2023.

The new system will be integrated with SafeScript NSW and will allow prescribers to submit authority applications online, track progress of their applications and reduce the turnaround time for applications. In some cases, prescribers will receive authorities in real time.

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 7 December 2022. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

30 November 2022

What is My Health Record?

My Health Record is a secure online summary of important patient health information which has been shared between healthcare providers across the sector.

Medicare Overview – MBS and DVA information

The Medicare Overview section of My Health Record is an important, but underutilised, source of patient health information.

As consumers interact with the Medicare system, a record of these interactions is displayed in their My Health Record.

You can use the Medicare Overview to find information about services your patients have accessed through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) such as allied health, pathology, imaging, specialists and other GPs.

Medicare information may include:

MBS/DVA claims information

MBS and DVA claims information. The MBS provides benefits for an extensive range of medical services, procedures, and consultations, including consultation fees for doctors and specialists, tests and examinations doctors require to diagnose and treat illnesses, for example X-rays, ultrasounds, and pathology tests.

PBS/RPBS claims information

Prescription information from Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits (RPBS). Medication listings are PBS-only and will not include medications dispensed which are not PBS-classified (e.g. private or NSW hospital scripts).

You can access the My Health Record – Medicare Overview through your clinical software.

Download the factsheet on how to access the Medicare Overview for your software below:

Best Practice Medical Director Genie

If you need help setting up or accessing My Health Record, email SWSPHN’s Digital Health team at DigitalHealth@swsphn.com.au

17 November 2022

The Australian Digital Health Agency has provided a resources and events update.

Highlights in this edition include:

Digital health – test your knowledge of electronic prescriptions
New My Health Record in Community Health eLearning module
New education sessions on:
- Community Health Digital Health Foundations Series
- Digital Health Foundations Series
- Emergency Access
- My Health Record for Health Workers – Series 1
- Pharmacy Technicians and Assistants – getting to know Electronic Prescriptions and the Active Script List
- Practice Managers – getting to know Electronic Prescriptions and the Active Script List
- What you need to know about Assisted Registration

Download the update

17 November 2022

Effective information security in general practice is essential.

As the digital healthcare landscape in Australia continues to evolve, so do the information and cyber security risks.

RACGP’s new Information Security in General Practice resource will equip GPs and practice teams with key tools to:

implement robust information security protocols to protect critical clinical and practice data
manage the ever-evolving cyber-security risk landscape
successfully prepare for, respond to and recover from crisis situations
align with requirements and legal obligations of the current health technology environment
keep patients, staff and the business safe

RACGP Information security in general practice

This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 16 November 2022. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.

07 September 2022

South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) is inviting feedback from Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) across our region about what support they require to increase the availability and use of telehealth services for their residents.

We have received funding from the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) to promote appropriate telehealth facilities and equipment in RACFs to facilitate increased capability and usage.

We will also:

Provide training to improve the capacity of RACF staff to assist residents with accessing telehealth consultations
Encourage the use of My Health Record by RACFs to improve how information is shared between healthcare providers
Assist RACFs to ensure appropriate after-hours plans are in place, and provide education on after-hours care options and processes

Understanding needs of RACFs in our region

SWSPHN is conducting a needs assessment of all RACFs within south western Sydney to determine the level of support they require to increase the availability and use of telehealth services at their facility.

Our current ETA for needs assessment completion is March 2023.

The financial assistance SWSPHN offers your RACF may include:

procurement of equipment required for telehealth consultations, including IT hardware and software, and
staff training in the availability and use of telehealth options.

Complete an expression of interest for your facility

Complete the RACF telehealth grants EOI now

Need help or have questions?

Please contact our Digital Health Team on (02) 4632 3000 or email digitalhealth@swsphn.com.au.

20 July 2022

If you’re a medical specialist or practice manager in a specialist clinic, you can learn from local specialists about the digital health tools available to improve how you deliver healthcare to your patients.

SWSPHN is hosting three webinars featuring guest speakers: Dr Benjamin Kwan and Dr David Hoffman.

Dr Benjamin Kwan is an endocrinologist practicing in Cabramatta, with appointments at Canterbury and Concord Hospitals. He has a special interest in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, thyroid disease, and calcium and bone disorders. He will present at a meeting on Wednesday, 27 July.

Dr David Hoffman has practiced as an endocrinologist in Fairfield for almost 25 years. He is also associated with the Australian software company, S4S, which produces the Audit4 EMR for medical specialists, and which integrates My Health Record and electronic prescribing. He will present at a meeting on Wednesday, 10 August.

Dr Hoffman and Dr Kwan are early adopters of digital health solutions and are invested in helping their specialist peers to understand the benefits they bring to their patients and their practices.

The webinars aim to support specialist practices to use digital health tools to transform they deliver care, reduce administrative burden, save time and improve clinical handovers.

Register for a webinar:

Tuesday, 26 July
6.30pm-8pm
REGISTER HERE

Wednesday, 27 July
7.30pm-9pm
REGISTER HERE

Wednesday, 10 August
7pm-8.30pm
REGISTER HERE

At the webinar, medical specialists and practice managers can expect to learn about:

Identifying the digital health tools available to specialists which can improve service delivery and clinical handovers, including My Health Record, electronic prescribing, telehealth and secure messaging
How some digital health tools can be used in everyday clinical workflow to help increase efficiency, lower cost and improve patient outcomes
Recognising the ease of sharing letters and viewing your patient’s information in the My Health Record using clinical software
Identifying the support available for specialists to adopt digital health tools

To hear the benefits from your local specialists, register above.

If you can’t make it on the day, all webinars will be recorded, and a link will be sent out to those who have registered, so jump over and register before they close.

Find out more about digital health by:

Contacting SWSPHN Digital Health Officer, Catherine Worsley, on 4632 3052 or via email at Catherine.Worsley@swsphn.com.au.

Visiting the Australian Digital Health Agency website at Digital Health resources for healthcare providers.

22 March 2022

SWSPHN is continuing its partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency to assist medical specialists connect with the My Health Record system.

Through My Health Record, medical specialists can join GPs in accessing patient clinical information in a timely manner minimising administrative time and burden. It also facilitates care coordination with other healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care.

My Health Record is designed to provide you with key health information, including;

Hospital discharge summaries
Medicine prescription and dispensing records
Pathology and diagnostic imaging reports
Medicare information

If you are a medical specialist or work with one, we encourage you to register to connect to the My Health Record system. Please send an email to digitalhealth@swsphn.com.au to contact one of our Digital Health Officers for assistance.

To find more information:

Factsheet 1

Factsheet 2