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Healthcare IT

Australian state forms e-Health agency

By Adrienne Valdez | 26 August 2011

As New South Wales (NSW) Health undergoes a major overhaul, Health Minister Jillian Skinner announced the creation of eHealth NSW, a new agency to look after IT services across the state’s healthcare system.

In addition to assuming ICT responsibilities, eHealth NSW would also take e-health roles that were previously shared between the Department and Health Support Services.

“The new agency aims to drive innovation, improve implementation of vital electronic health initiatives and provide support to the districts and their facilities,” Skinner said in an official statement.

The NSW Health reform was a result of NSW Health director-general Mary Foley’s governance review which reads, “eHealth NSW would become the system leader for the NSW Health information strategy, forward planning and delivery.”

“It is critical that an early objective of eHealth NSW is a re-setting of strategy based on extensive consultation with clinicians and other users and the redesign of ICT governance to ensure clear statewide plans and an appropriate balance with local initiatives.”

According to the Health Minister, the implementation of the revamp would begin immediately and wrap up by the end of the year, freeing up over $80 million for frontline services.

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