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If You Wanted Some Evidence Regarding How Likely The PCEHR is To Fail Here It Is!

The following appeared a day or so ago.

Faith lost over e-health record, few GPs see value

21st Feb 2012
JUST 5% of GPs understand how the government’s personally controlled e-health record system (PCEHR) will work and what will be expected of them when it is rolled out on 1 July, while only a quarter think the system will help with consultations.
The apparent lack of faith in the government’s e-health records system was revealed in a survey of 150 GPs, conducted by Cegedim on behalf of MO, which also found 76% of GPs still held concerns over the lack of remuneration on offer to compensate for  time spent by doctors curating the electronic records.
The results came as the health department confirmed it is “in consultation” with the IT industry and general practice organisations about the next phase of the Practice Incentives Program (PIP)to support e-health.
But AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton said more PIP payments to help practices install the PCEHR infrastructure  wouldn’t change the fact that “someone has to do the work of creating and maintaining the record and that will be the GP”.
He said the poor understanding of what GPs would have to do as reflected in the survey results was “dreadful” and the government should remember “GPs can opt in or opt out as well”.
Lots more here:
There are astonishingly bad figures for awareness and planned adoption of the PCEHR.
It seems clear to even to those who are totally unconscious the program has slipped into utter nonsense as far as Change and Adoption is concerned.
A Federal press release from July last year is instructive.

More Progress in e-health Consultation and Engagement

Two important milestones in the development of Australia’s e-health system have been met with the key appointment of the National Change and Adoption Partner and the release of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record System: Legislation issues paper.
7 July 2011
Two important milestones in the development of Australia’s e-health system have been met with the key appointment of the National Change and Adoption Partner and the release of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record System: Legislation issues paper.
“E-health records will drive safer, more efficient and better quality healthcare for Australians. It is one of the important elements of national health reform,” Minister Roxon said.
“Patients will no longer have to remember every immunisation, every medical test, and every prescription as they move from doctor to doctor.
A consortium headed by McKinsey and Company has been selected to lead the national change and adoption process as Australia moves to introduce Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (PCEHR) next year.
“The National Change and Adoption Partner will help educate and support the training and information needs of the health workforce who will use the system,” Minister Roxon said.
“The consortium will plan, design and develop training, guidance and tools in collaboration with clinicians and software providers. It will also provide change management support for clinicians including at the 12 lead implementation sites.
“From 1 July 2012, Australians will be able to choose to have a personal eHealth record, giving individuals a level of control over their health information never previously available.
“For doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals, PCEHRs will help transform Australia’s health system, improving the security of patient information and allowing for better clinical assessments and more efficient, effective treatment.”
“The Commonwealth is investing up to $29.9 million for this important contract for e health implementation.
The rest of the release is here:
By the end of February the Partner has had essentially zero impact among ordinary clinicians and this thing is meant to go live in 18 weeks. This is going to be some sprint to the finish!
I wonder does the money run out in 18 weeks too - and how much has been spent to get essentially nowhere that can be observed in a national survey of doctors?
Really silly stuff. I am told the Powerpoints the money has bought are just fabulous!
David.

Just So Expectations Are Correct - A Small Delay In PCEHR Enquiry Until March 13, 2012.

The following was posted yesterday here:

Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records Bill 2011 and one related bill

Information about the Inquiry

On 25 November 2011 the Senate jointly referred the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011 and the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records Bill 2011 for inquiry and report.
Submissions should be received by 12 January 2012. The reporting date is 29 February 2012. On 28 February 2012,the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 13 March 2012.
The Committee is seeking written submissions from interested individuals and organisations preferably in electronic form submitted online or sent by email to community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au as an attached Adobe PDF or MS Word format document. The email must include full postal address and contact details.
Alternatively, written submissions may be sent to:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Notes to help you prepare your submission are available from the website at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm. Alternatively, the Committee Secretariat will be able to help you with your inquiries and can be contacted on telephone +61 2 6277 3515 or facsimile +61 2 6277 5829 or by email to community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au.
Inquiries from hearing and speech impaired people should be directed to Parliament House TTY number 02 6277 7799. Adobe also provides tools at http://access.adobe.com/ for the blind and visually impaired to access PDF documents. If you require any special arrangements to enable you to participate in the Committee's inquiry, please contact the Committee Secretariat.
Once the Committee accepts your submission, it becomes a confidential Committee document and is protected by Parliamentary Privilege. You must not release your submission without the Committee's permission. If you do, it will not be protected by Parliamentary Privilege. At some stage during the inquiry, the Committee normally makes submissions public and places them on its website. Please indicate if you want your submission to be kept confidential.
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
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Just for information. Hope I am not breaking any laws.
David.