The Australian government continued its rollout of personally controlled electronic medical records (PCEHRs) with an open call for electronic health partners. The plan is being overseen by the Australian National E-Health Transition Authority. The National Change and Adoption Partner and the National Infrastructure Partners will help put in place the essential procedures and technologies needed to run the system across Australia. The government is contracting with these groups to help ensure that the potential of its AUS$466.7 million investment in PCEHRs is reached, and that the project stays on track for its projected July 1, 2012, start date.
In addition, IBM Australia won a AUS$22.6 million contract to design and build the National Authentication Service for Health (NASH), which seeks to improve the security of all electronic health communications and safeguard PCEHRs. The NASH system will introduce powerful control measures in the PCEHRs that will allow patients to grant providers access to their information and track who has viewed their records. According to Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon, NASH will be planned with input from both providers and consumers to make sure that everyone’s needs are met.
Sources:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/FCF6CB0B7DD92C33CA25783900198B96/$File/nr022.pdf
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/77D1BF073C176C03CA257845007B2954/$File/nr032.pdf
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/ibm-wins-government-e-health-security-contract/story-e6frgakx-1226013765428