Murrumbidgee LHD's 'virtual hubs' and e-prescribing pilots and more briefs
Murrumbidgee LHD is testing 'virtual hubs', an electronic prescribing tool
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) in southern New South Wales is piloting a new state-sponsored telehealth program that will give people living in rural and remote areas access to quality healthcare closer to home, saving them long having to travel distances.
Based on a press release, the Virtual Hubs trial gives community members the opportunity to conduct remote health consultations in a dedicated room in a district facility equipped with the tools necessary for telehealth, including a wall-mounted screen, camera , speaker and keyboard and mouse .
The virtual hubs are now being trialled at Junee Multipurpose Service (MPS), Tumut Hospital, Hillston MPS, Lake Cargelligo MPS, Hay MPS and Deniliquin Hospital.
Meanwhile, physicians in MLHD will also participate in the pilot of a new electronic prescribing program early next year. The trial will enable nurse practitioners to write and send e-prescriptions, expanding their scope of practice. The aim is also to reduce administrative tasks such as dealing with paper scripts and minimize the risks of transcription errors and drug interactions.
The Boorowa MPS will be the first location of the pilot, followed by Western NSW LHD.
Magentus' oncology IMS is coming to WA's South Metropolitan Health Service
The South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) in Western Australia is adopting Magentus' Charm Evolution oncology information management system.
Charm Evolution was chosen to support SMHS' transition to a fully electronic prescribing system that will serve as a “single source of truth for a patient's treatment.” The system is expected to provide physicians with “more accurate” patient data and “instant” and remote access to near real-time information and standard protocols.
Major SMHS hospitals, Fiona Stanley Hospital and Rockingham General Hospital, will go live with Charm Evolution in the “first half of next year,” according to a press release.
Western Sydney begins its transition to e-referrals
The Western Sydney LHD has begun using electronic referrals through HealthLink, with initial implementation taking place in the gastroenterology and gynecology outpatient clinics at Blacktown Hospital.
The NSW-wide project is introducing e-referrals to improve the quality and security of referral processes, which had become 'too time-consuming'.
From next year, hospitals and community health services in Cumberland, Mount Druitt and Westmead will be accessible via e-referrals.
Olinqua, Vayyar Care Announces Tech Integration for Fall Prevention
Olinqua has combined its hospital automation solution with Vayyar Care's 4D imaging radar technology to offer a new integrated system for fall case management.
Vayyar Care's sensors can monitor fall risk factors, such as increased bathroom use, loss of mobility and changes in sleep patterns. Integrating this risk data into Olinqua's smart control system would provide a proactive approach to detecting and ppreventing falls.
“(This technology) integration allows hospital and residential aged care staff to receive immediate notification of a fall or suspected fall on a smartphone, with a graphical representation of the incident and its location on the Olinqua dashboard,” Feargal O'Farrell, Vayyar Care Director of ANZ Sales, explained further.