The Andrews Labor Government is reducing paperwork for doctors and nurses and ensuring clinicians can deliver care faster across northern Victoria with the modernisation of medical records now underway.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today announced more than $14 million will be invested to support Loddon Mallee health services upgrade their systems over the next four years, delivering safer and more patient-centred care for the region.
Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) streamline tasks, reduce the manual writing of reports and prescriptions, and give healthcare workers easy and fast access to vital patient information, improving care coordination and increasing efficiency and productivity.
The initiative will also strengthen home-based and virtual care programs and enable a more efficient management of service demand in this large geographic region.
Loddon Mallee Health Network will extend its TrakCare medical record system to three health services including Mildura Base Public Hospital, Echuca Regional Health, and Swan Hill District Health.
Victoria’s digital health roadmap recognises the importance of replacing paper-based records at all Victorian public health services with electronic systems that provide a secure way to store and share patient information.
The roadmap also focuses on improving the resilience of health services against technology outages and cyber-attacks, embedding patient-centred care by joining up healthcare records, creating more options for people to receive care closer to home, and giving consumers access to their own healthcare information.
Digitising medical records is also a priority of the Health 2040: Advancing Health, Access and Care plan, which highlights the importance of using e-health and communications technology to improve outcomes for patients.
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
“Electronic medical records are safer, more secure, and significantly improve communication when providing care.”
“Delivering on Victoria’s digital health roadmap is critical to building a health system that is able to meet the challenges of the future and provide all Victorians with world-class, quality care no matter where they live.”
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
“Upgrading the medical record system ensures our region is better equipped to provide our community the best healthcare available close to their homes.”
