MediRecords teams with Heidi Health for smarter clinical notes
 

September 25, 2024

MediRecords teams with Heidi Health for smarter clinical notes

AI note-taking technology to streamline clinical documentation will be available in MediRecords from October.

 

The leading cloud electronic health record and practice management system will offer an integration with Heidi Health’s AI Medical Scribe, enabling clinical consultations to be transformed into notes or documents in seconds. Doctors will not need to log into a separate software system, or cut and paste across browser tabs, thanks to embedded Heidi capability inside MediRecords.

Supporting millions of sessions per month, Heidi generates documents such as referral letters, clinical notes and Care Plans. With Heidi scribing, doctors can type less and reclaim time for patient care — or better work life balance.

MediRecords Founder and CEO Matthew Galetto said: “Everything we can do to improve working conditions for clinicians helps them provide better patient outcomes. We are excited about partnering with Heidi Health and our other AI initiatives on the way.”

Heidi Health Founder and CEO Dr Thomas Kelly said: “As a clinician, I recognise that doctors rarely experience benefits from introducing new tools. Heidi is the rare case where simply clicking a button can be life-changing, saving hours of work each day. We’re proud to be partnering with MediRecords, who have led the industry in cloud, interoperability and now, AI.”

Heidi Health data shows clinicians spend more than two hours per day on tasks other than patient care, losing up to $66,000 annually as a result. AI scribe technology means they can work up to twice as efficiently. Doctors who use Heidi report “getting home on time” and “taking their lunch break again.”

With a Heidi subscription, MediRecords users can launch AI ambient technology from their clinical dashboard, transforming consultations into templated notes for review by the user. Once reviewed, the notes are automatically added to MediRecords’ Today’s Notes field. Heidi Health technology is GDPR and APP (Australian Privacy Principles) compliant and ISO27001 and SOC2 accredited for security.

MediRecords is a multidisciplinary EHR and PMS system used by clients including Queensland Health, the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and soon to be deployed by the Australian Defence Force.

Media inquiries

To arrange to speak with Mr Galetto, or for further information on MediRecords, please email Tim Pegler or call 0435 444 690.

To arrange to speak to Dr Kelly, please email leah@heidihealth.com.

Key features MediRecords customers can expect with Heidi AI Medical Scribe

AI Scribing

Rely on high-quality AI scribing for consultations lasting up to two hours, ensuring detailed and accurate notes.

Multilingual Scribing

Benefit from Heidi AI Scribe in 26 languages, supporting diverse patient communities.

Smart Transcription

Upgrade from traditional dictation to smart transcription. No need for manual commands like "Full stop. New line."

Custom Templates

Create your own note formats or choose from pre-built templates to suit your clinical workflow.

One-Click Access

Once configured, you can open Heidi AI Scribe directly within MediRecords without the hassle of separate logins.

Auto Documentation

Following clinical review, Heidi AI Scribe adds notes to Today’s Notes, streamlining your documentation process.

Interested in finding out more about Heidi AI Scribe in MediRecords?

Register below to receive updates on the launch of Heidi Health’s AI Medical Scribe in MediRecords.


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Aussies’ Sexual Health Trends: Insights for Sexual Health Month
 

September 20, 2024

Aussies’ Sexual Health Trends: Insights for Sexual Health Month

Sexual Health Month provides a timely opportunity to survey some of the recent research in the field of sexual and reproductive health — and report some news from the coalface.

Travellers

Travelling Aussies are mostly proactive about their sexual health before departure when they see a travel-medicine doctor or nurse, with 72% of those in the study requesting STI testing pre-departure.

Over 60s

A survey of 1840 people aged over 60 found patients want GPs to initiate sexual health conversations as part of routine care. It also found that barriers included patient embarrassment, uncertainty about finding solutions, and ageism. 

James Sneddon, co-founder of Stigma Health, said that while the largest age group accessing STI testing via his service is 20-30, the next biggest bracket is those aged 60-70, “with an influx of those who are pushing 80”.

Prostate cancer

Information on complications with sexual function following prostate surgery are the most commonly unmet need among men with prostate cancer, a study found. The researchers recommended sexual well-being discussions as standard care for all prostate cancer patients.

Women’s health

A special edition of the Australian Journal of Primary Health dedicated to optimising women’s sexual and reproductive health in primary care highlighted that:

  • There is a high level of unmet need for effective contraception in Australia and access barriers including the availability of services. 
  • The limited number of GPs who insert intrauterine devices presents a significant barrier to access.
  • Access to abortion care in Australia is inequitable, especially outside cities, and few publicly-funded abortion options are available in most states.
  • There is an urgent need for transparency around public abortion service availability and government commitment to expanding abortion care.
  • Most women did not receive in-depth contraceptive counselling antenatally or postnatally, but would have found this useful.
  • Women surveyed about over-the-counter access to the oral contraceptive pill were in favour, especially for repeat prescriptions.

Awkward

For sexual health month, the key message from Mr Sneddon is:  “Get awkward. Have a conversation with your mates or your partner about getting tested; the majority of STIs have no symptoms.” Among Aussies tested via Stigma Health, there has been a recent surge in Chlamydia numbers; it is 33% higher than the 5-year mean, Mr Sneddon said.

 

Further reading:

Ahmed, Z., Gu, Y., Sinha, K., Mutowo, M., Gauld, N., & Parkinson, B. (2024). A qualitative exploration of the over-the-counter availability of oral contraceptive pills in Australia. PloS one, 19(6), e0305085.

Bourchier, L., Temple-Smith, M., Hocking, J. S., & Malta, S. (2024). Older patients want to talk about sexual health in Australian primary care. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 30(4).

Charlick, M., Tiruye, T., Ettridge, K., O’Callaghan, M., Sara, S., Jay, A., & Beckmann, K. (2024). Prostate Cancer Related Sexual Dysfunction and Barriers to Help Seeking: A Scoping Review. Psycho‐Oncology, 33(8), e9303.

Dev, T., Buckingham, P., & Mazza, D. (2023). Women’s perspectives of direct pharmacy access to oral contraception. Australian Journal of Primary Health.

Haas, M., Church, J., Street, D. J., Bateson, D., & Mazza, D. (2023). How can we encourage the provision of early medical abortion in primary care? Results of a best-worst scaling survey. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 29(3), 252–259

Li, C. K., Botfield, J., Amos, N., Mazza, D. (2023) Women’s experiences of, and preferences for, postpartum contraception counselling. Australian Journal of Primary Health 29(3), 229-234.

Mazza, D., & Botfield, J. R. (2023). The role of primary care in optimising women’s sexual and reproductive health. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 29(i–iii).

Power, A., Tuteja, A., Mascarenhas, L., & Temple-Smith, M. (2023). A qualitative exploration of obtaining informed consent in medical consultations with Burma-born women. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 29(3), 284–291.

Srinivasan, S., Botfield, J. R., & Mazza, D. (2023). Utilising Health Pathways to understand the availability of public abortion in Australia. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 29(3), 260–267

Warzywoda, S., Fowler, J. A., Debattista, J., Mills, D. J., Furuya-Kanamori, L., Durham, J., … & Dean, J. A. (2024). The provision of sexual and reproductive health information and services to travellers: an exploratory survey of Australian travel medicine clinicians. Sexual Health, 21(1).

Stigma Health eliminates embarrassment by removing the need for in-person clinical consultations and allowing consumers to get a non-confrontational STI-test pathology referral online then take it to any of the 10,000 pathology collection centres Australia-wide.

 

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Meditations on a National Conference with a conscience
 
 

August 30, 2024

Meditations on a National Conference with a conscience

The theme for the Catholic Health Australia National Conference that wound up in Sydney this week was ‘Rejoice Reimagine’. MediRecords has attended numerous innovation-focused gatherings over the years, but none where faith and belief have been so central to proceedings.

The theme for the Catholic Health Australia National Conference that wound up in Sydney this week was ‘Rejoice Reimagine’. MediRecords has attended numerous innovation-focused gatherings over the years, but none where faith and belief have been so central to proceedings. Here are four take-aways from the event.

Keynote speaker Dr  Gill Hicks  spoke with amazing grace about the events that led to her being critically wounded in a London terrorist attack and hospitalised for six months, initially labelled by rescuers as ‘one unknown, estimated female’. Dr Hicks said there is always opportunity in adversity; she used the loss of her legs as her chance to become taller, through longer than recommended prosthetic limbs. She said the thought of not being able to make a natural footprint on Australian soil had been confronting until she realised ‘how we leave each other’ is of more lasting importance.

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Secretary Blair Comley said that in developing a strategic map for health and aged care nationally, the department was aware it should be thinking 15 to 30 years ahead. He said the strategy had four key priorities:

  1. Prioritise prevention and early intervention.
  2. Address health and aged care inequities.
  3. Enhance system integration, in part through private sector engagement.
  4. Leverage available health and digital technology.

Australian Medical Association federal president Professor Steve Robson said the recent introduction of electronic medical record (EMR) technology that was non-intuitive and complex for users had been a catastrophe. The transition period had been “really awful”, and several senior colleagues had left healthcare due to added stress and workload. Professor Robson urged politicians to spend less time cutting ribbons and announcing tech projects, when the focus should be on systems that enable patient-centred care.

Operations Manager at St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney Katya Issa spoke of how prison accelerates aging and exacerbates existing illnesses. Older people often enter prison without medications, mobility aids and glasses, and can face long delays getting these. She said St Vincent’s Health needed to keep advocating for sentencing reform, age-specific facilities and more transitional services for people leaving prisons.

Senior Peer Worker at the NSW Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network, Andrew Padayachy, who was arrested, charged and then had all charges dropped after several months in prison, spoke of the humiliation of being wheeled into a public hospital for a brain scan, handcuffed by hands and feet to a wheelchair. Mr Padayachy also called for greater support for people being released as many had become dependent on the justice system, having forgotten how to live in the community.

MediRecords welcomes opportunities to work with faith-based and social justice organisations. An alternative to larger EMR vendors, our interoperable, secure, cloud-hosted Electronic Health Records system provides a longitudinal view of care in the community and hospitals. Our new Admissions module, built to support 200 beds managed by the Australian Defence Force, includes electronic prescribing, progress notes, handovers, charting, and assessments. Medication management and a new patient portal are in development.

MediRecords welcomes opportunities to work with faith-based and social justice organisations. An alternative to larger EMR vendors, our interoperable, secure, cloud-hosted Electronic Health Records system provides a longitudinal view of care in the community and hospitals. Our new Admissions module, built to support 200 beds managed by the Australian Defence Force, includes electronic prescribing, progress notes, handovers, charting, and assessments. Medication management and a new patient portal are in development.

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Homelessness Awareness Week: The housing-health nexus
 

August 06, 2024

Homelessness Awareness Week: The housing-health nexus

Tonight almost 122,500 Australians will have nowhere safe and secure to sleep, the most recent census data shows. One in seven of them will be children under 12.

In 2022-23, 273,600 people were assisted by homelessness services, with another 108,000 unable to be assisted due to insufficient staff, accommodation or resources. In the group who could not be supported by overstretched services, 80 per cent were women and children, many of whom were fleeing domestic and family violence, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

This week, Homelessness Awareness Week, the national peak body for homelessness, Homelessness Australia, is calling for the changes that could turn the tide of homelessness, including:

  • Increasing social housing to 10% of all housing;
  • Increasing funding to homelessness services to meet need; and
  • Increasing income support payments to at least $80 a day.

This week also serves as a stark reminder of the health difficulties faced by people experiencing homelessness (PEH). Studies in Australia and internationally have found about 60% of PEH have a long-term physical condition or long-term mental health conditions – higher than the population who do not experience homelessness.

The health disparities of PEH and a revolving hospital door — PEH are 43% more likely to reattend emergency departments within 28 days — reflect the social circumstances that have contributed to the experience of homelessness.

A wide-ranging review study this year, led by Jean-Phillipe Miller at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, argued that while PEH were often viewed by healthcare services as “hard to reach”, it is the services themselves that are difficult to access for this vulnerable group. 

By bringing healthcare directly to those in need, outreach programs, such as primary healthcare service outreach programs, offer a promising solution. A UK study found they can help bridge the gap between the homeless and essential health services. 

Homeless Healthcare in Perth is one such service, providing outreach health care to PEH on the streets, along with fixed site clinics and a 20-bed inpatient facility.

CEO Alison Sayer said Homeless Healthcare provides services where they are most needed, creating an alternative to busy public emergency departments.

She said Homeless Healthcare supported over 2500 people in 2023, many of whom had multiple health conditions.

Ms Sayer said, “People experiencing homelessness have an average life expectancy of less than 50 years, a stark contrast to the average Australian who can expect to live into their 80s.

“This disparity largely exists due to the many barriers preventing people experiencing homelessness from accessing healthcare. Health problems are among the most significant factors leading to and perpetuating homelessness.” 

MediRecords is proud to support the work of Homeless Healthcare as the electronic health record system for inpatient and outpatient care.

You can help make a difference by donating to Homeless Healthcare today – donate here. 

Sources and further reading:

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2023). Health of people experiencing homelessness. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/health-of-people-experiencing-homelessness

Homelessness Australia. (2023). Home. https://homelessnessaustralia.org.au/

Kopanitsa, V., McWilliams, S., Leung, R., Schischa, B., Sarela, S., Perelmuter, S., Sheeran, E., Mourgue, L., Tan, G. C., & Rosenthal, D. M. (2023). A systematic scoping review of primary health care service outreach for homeless populations. Family Practice, 40(1), 138-151. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmac075

Lee, S., Thomas, P., Newnham, H., Freidin, J., Smith, C., Lowthian, J., Borghmans, F., Gocentas, R. A., De Silva, D., & Stafrace, S. (2019). Homeless status documentation at a metropolitan hospital emergency department. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 31, 639–645.

Miller, J. P., Hutton, J., Doherty, C., & Holmes, C. (2024). A scoping review examining patient experience and what matters to people experiencing homelessness when seeking healthcare. BMC Health Services Research, 24(492). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10971-8

Morrison, D. S. (2009). Homelessness as an independent risk factor for mortality: Results from a retrospective cohort study. International Journal of Epidemiology, 38(3), 877–883. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyp160

Queen, A. B., Lowrie, R., Richardson, J., & Williamson, A. E. (2017). Multimorbidity, disadvantage, and patient engagement within a specialist homeless health service in the UK: An in-depth study of general practice data. BJGP Open, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen17X100941

Wood, L., Wood, N. J. R., Vallesi, S., Stafford, A., Davies, A., & Cumming, C. (2019). Hospital collaboration with a housing first program to improve health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. Housing, Care and Support, 22(1), 27–39.

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What’s happening in health?
 
 
 

July 9, 2024

What's happening in health?

As one of the biggest industries on the planet, there’s always something happening in healthcare. Here’s what has captured our attention recently.

Industry news

Private hospitals are facing tough times as costs of doing business keep rising while a major source of their revenue – private health insurers (PHI) – are seen to be holding tight to profits. The ill-will between PHI and private hospitals is best demonstrated by the battle between the St Vincent’s group and NIB, which is at breaking point.

Suggestions of a crisis in the private hospital sector are underlined by key players co-operating with a Federal Government review. Health Services Daily reports that, “79 facilities — including day surgeries, endoscopy centres, private hospitals, wound care centres, cosmetic surgery centres, dental centres, respiratory and sleep disorder clinics, dialysis clinics and mental health centres — have either closed or revoked their declaration as a private hospital since 2019”.

Internationally, post-pandemic use of telehealth has fallen and major retail chains who leapt into healthcare are back-pedalling. American companies Walmart and Walgreens winding back their health businesses (see What retail titans might do next on health care (axios.com)), makes us wonder how Healthylifeis going for Woolworths, locally.

The pressure to be profitable means most hospitals are searching for ways to reduce the costs of delivering care. Managing patients in their own beds may be cheaper than hospital beds and so the cash-strapped UK National Health Service has committed to scaling up virtual care.

If the NHS needs a success story to use as inspiration, the ever-innovative Cleveland Clinic is hailing its acute hospital care in the home program a success for patients and staff, while acknowledging further improvements are possible. For details, see Lessons from Cleveland Clinic’s 1st year of ‘hospital at home’ (beckershospitalreview.com).

Melbourne’s Austin Hospital has also committed to virtual wards as business as usual, particularly for cardiac and haematology patients.

And the Federal Government is funding virtual careto chip away at a barriers to accessing mental health inpatient care, (partly caused by a shortage of accessible psychiatrists).

Keeping it real on artificial intelligence

Investors seeking share-market alchemy remain bullish on Artificial Intelligence while potential end users want ethical, regulatory and security assurances to precede introduction of these potentially very useful new tools. The American Medical Association offers sensible tips on technology adoption here: In the push for AI in health care, avoid EHR rollout mistakes | American Medical Association (ama-assn.org)

As to the smorgasbord of AI news, here is an aperitif:

 

Source: Future Health Index 2024 Better care for more people

We're all healthcare consumers

We also keep a close watch on consumer health news, in the interest of all of us avoiding hospitalisation. Here are some insights aimed at keeping our engines running:

Evidence is mounting that good gut health boosts mental health and ability to handle stress. Stress: Could a healthy gut microbiome make you more resilient? (medicalnewstoday.com)

Multivitamins, however, might only contribute to expensive and colourful urine. Another Study Finds No Life-Extending Benefit From Multivitamins (healthday.com)

In other product news, the old advice (or excellent marketing) that taking aspirin reduces risk of heart attack appears to have been debunked – unless you have previously had a stroke or heart attack. American Adults Warned Over Aspirin Use Despite Risks – Newsweek

Stanford University research, published in the journal Nature Medicine, has identified six different types of depression, which has implications for better treatment and management of mental ill-health. 6 types of depression identified in Stanford study | CNN

And there are clear reasons to avoid COVID19 because the long form of the illness is particularly nasty. Report: More than 200 symptoms tied to long COVID | CIDRAP (umn.edu)

The last word

Police, prisons and hospital emergency departments are often the professionals most likely to be dealing with people experiencing acute mental ill health. Here’s a good news story of how technology and faster access to treatment can successfully divert people from EDs and custody – https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/outfitting-police-telehealth-ipads-mental-health-program-saves-government-62m?

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Feeling the heat at
Burning GP
 
 

June 17, 2024

Feeling the heat at Burning GP

MediRecords joined the sun-starved throng flocking to the Tweed for the Wild Health Burning GP conference last week.

Here are 10 takeaways from two days of robust and enlightening conversations.

1. GPs are divided on the impact of Urgent Care Centres (UCC)

Are nascent UCCs an attempt to woo voters in outer suburban marginal seats, a means to divert a few people from crowded hospital emergency departments… or an example of government spending that would be better invested in primary care? The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) past president Adj Prof Karen Price also pondered whether UCCs are turning away “non-urgent” patients and referring them back to their family GPs.

2. There’s a great divide between GPs and hospitals

Healthdirect Australia is trialling a way to send NSW hospital discharge summaries to GPs and patients and Queensland discharge summaries are uploaded to The Viewer … but the data disconnect between primary and tertiary care remains vast*.

Associate Professor Alam Yoosuff, the Rural Doctors Association NSW vice president, said GPs were often left in the dark about hospital outcomes for their patients.

“We don’t always know if person has died, been discharged, or been sent home with only six (tablets)… We know the system is not right. It may be better than other countries, but we know it should be even better, given what (governments) are spending.” 

– Associate Professor Alam Yoosuff, the Rural Doctors Association NSW vice president

Judging by the overall vibe at Burning GP, GPs feel much of the government cash spent on shiny new hospitals could be better spent on disease prevention led by community-based primary care practitioners.

3. Workforce scaling

The RACGP warned Australia has a “whole of health” workforce crisis, exacerbated by insufficient medical students coming through, so we’re going to have to import doctors, nurses and specialists from overseas. (The ever-resilient Health Department Assistant Secretary Medicare Benefits and Digital Health, Mr Daniel McCabe, said he preferred “critical juncture” to crisis, triggering a running joke for the entire conference.)

Grampians Health Chief Strategy & Regions Officer Dr Robert Grenfell said the shortage of GPs in western Victoria was so acute he was planning based on having none. He said: “If we have (GPs) I will use them” but it was now prudent to make alternative plans.

4. Medicare misery is multiplying

Several conference panels highlighted the challenges of determining the correct, optimally reimbursed Medicare item codes for complex consultations. Mr McCabe conceded all billable items are due for review, with an aspirational goal of improving access to healthcare for people who can least afford it.

5. Telehealth – supplementary or threat?

If young and tech-savvy consumers keep opting for online access to quick prescriptions, medical certificates and more, community GPs will be left with older, sicker, more complex clients, including those with mental ill health. Whitebridge Medical Centre owner Dr Max Mollenkopf said GPs needed to understand why consumers are switching to digital health companies such as Eucalyptus and adapt fast. He said, “Our old patients who love us will die off and all the young ones will be (Eucalyptus patients) unless we do something different.”

6. The numbers speak for themselves

The Australian National University Associate Professor (and GP) Louise Stone highlighted a 42% pay gap between men and women GPs. She said this was compounded by women GPs shouldering a majority of longer, underfunded consultations with complex patients, (who may have been released from hospital prematurely to reduce bed blockages).

7. But metrics may deceive

Associate Professor Stone cautioned that ‘evidence-based solutions’ in healthcare may not be what they seem. Analysis had shown the typical participant in clinical trials is a privileged white male, the researcher is likely to be a white urban male and even the average lab rat is a white furred male. This means clinical metrics may not be representative … and AI tools risk exaggerating biased data even further.

Evrima Technologies CEO and Founder Charlotte Bradshaw said that 80% of clinical trials are delayed in Australia because eligible people can’t be found and paired with researchers.

8. The My Health Record (MHR) will grow exponentially

Mr McCabe confirmed legislation is imminent to mandate sharing diagnostic imaging and pathology with the MHR. The government will also “push very hard” for every medication event – prescribing and dispensing – to be uploaded. The CSIRO-led Sparked community will need to lead the software industry to a FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standard to achieve this. Mr McCabe said Australian healthcare was hamstrung by “a lot of technology built in the 1990s that is not fit for purpose”. The recent MediSecure data breach showed, “We need to make sure we set the bar a lot higher than it is today”.

9. Technology knowledge is variable

When you’re a time poor GP, technology is rarely top of mind. You just want it to work. GPs still need reassurance from healthcare influencers that cloud technology is as safe (or safer) than server-driven desktop tech and that switching brings cost and time savings on hardware, hosting, back-ups, security, software patches, electricity and more. As one GP said to us, “You mean I can sack my IT guy?”

As for innovations such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), there’s a sense that while there are time, safety, revenue and efficiency gains to be made, the early adopters and innovators will be waiting a while for their conservative colleagues to join them.

10. Summing up

Based on our conversations and observations at Burning GP, community general practitioners feel underfunded, overworked, undervalued, and under siege from telehealth providers and pharmacists. They’re a resilient mob though, and still passionately defending their role as number one for longitudinal patient care.

*MediRecords new Admissions module means we can provide a longitudinal record connecting primary and tertiary care in one secure, cloud-hosted software system. We can send Discharge Summaries from our Admissions module and store them against the central patient file. Please reach out to us at sales@medirecords.com if you’re trying to solve these types of connectivity problems!

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Solve Healthcare Challenges with MediRecords APIs
 
 

June 13, 2024

Solve Healthcare Challenges with MediRecords APIs

Effective management and secure sharing of clinical data are essential ingredients for providing safe, high-quality patient care.

However, healthcare providers often encounter challenges, from incompatible software systems to co-ordination issues among healthcare teams. In an effort to break down these barriers, MediRecords has developed a comprehensive suite of APIs to streamline data sharing processes and help improve patient outcomes.

FHIR APIs: Elevating data management in healthcare

MediRecords’ FHIR APIs give you better access to and control of your clients’ clinical data by facilitating the management and sharing of patient records. From encounters to prescriptions, allergies to immunisations, these APIs offer a robust way to handle diverse sets of patient information. By enabling interoperability between systems, FHIR APIs ensure that critical data is accessible whenever and wherever it’s needed.

Connect APIs: Seamless integration for enhanced patient care

Complementing our FHIR APIs, MediRecords’ Connect suite of proprietary REST APIs offers a tailored solution for managing patient administrative data and other crucial information. From appointments to practitioner sessions, these APIs facilitate seamless communication and coordination among healthcare providers, resulting in more efficient care delivery.

FHIR & MediRecords APIs

FHIR is the future standard for health data interoperability. MediRecords has enabled FHIR as a mechanism for secure data exchange, including with hospital systems.

MediRecords has various APIs, including:

Patient

Securely exchange patient data with 3rd party systems, import patient records or notes into your database, create surveys and web forms to update the patient database, and update patient files from remote hardware devices or services.

Appointments

Our platform offers medical integration & scheduling with 3rd party booking systems & the ability to sync multiple clinicians' calendars to improve patient flows. We also provide reporting software integration for recurrence & patient 'no-shows'.

Correspondence

Easily filter & arrange correspondence in MediRecords and third-party applications. Initiate reporting, create actions or follow-ups, and use webhooks to push correspondence triggers.

Configuration

Utilise 'custom fields' in patient records to introduce additional patient identifiers. You can also create, update, and delete tags to categorise patient records and improve searching and filtering.

Key challenges MediRecords can address through APIs
  1. Integrated appointment booking: You can eliminate scheduling conflicts and incomplete calendars by enabling patient booking and appointment management across systems. For example, external booking software can be used to populate your MediRecords appointments calendar.
  2. Secure communication of clinical information: Ensure effective and safe communication of clinical information through secure sharing of patient material, including referrals and medical certificates, with data clinically coded to SNOMED standards, aligning with industry best practices.
  3. Unified patient identifier: Overcome the challenge of duplicate patient records by sharing a unique patient identifier across systems, thus ensuring synchronized and accurate patient information. This identifier becomes the key to making sure systems and data are in synch.
  4. Consolidated patient record data: Provide a consolidated view of extended patient details by integrating patient demographics, allergies, conditions, and family history across systems. For example, if a patient’s details are updated in MediRecords, you can use APIs and webhooks to make sure these same details are updated in a separate client management system (CMS).
  5. Closed-loop medication ordering: Enhance medication management by monitoring orders from prescription to dispensing, thereby minimising errors and disruptions in patient treatment plans. An example is the sending of evidence of prescription from MediRecords into a hospital enterprise system, creating a single source of truth for medication history. MediRecords has done this at Northern Health in Melbourne, to support Victorian Virtual Emergency Department prescribing workflows.
  6. Integrated case management and shared care: Improve collaboration among healthcare teams by integrating episode of care details, ensuring a more coordinated approach to patient management. Updating the status of allergies and investigation requests, for example, can increase safety and reduce risk of duplicated procedures.
  7. Flexible data capture and retrieval: Offering flexibility in capturing and retrieving custom data through custom fields within MediRecords, tailored to specific practice needs. 

Learn more about the problems MediRecords APIs can solve here.  

MediRecords’ APIs represent a significant step forward in addressing the complex challenges faced by healthcare providers today. By offering robust solutions for data management, communication, and collaboration, these APIs empower healthcare teams to deliver safer patient care in an increasingly interconnected healthcare landscape. With a commitment to innovation and efficiency, MediRecords will continue to expand our means of securely sharing the data needed for the future of healthcare delivery.

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MediRecords wises up on CSIRO’s Smart Forms for Healthcare
 

May 01, 2024

MediRecords wises up
on CSIRO’s Smart Forms
for Healthcare

Leading cloud healthcare technology company MediRecords is deploying CSIRO’s open-source Smart Forms software to develop FHIR forms for rapid deployment into clinical use. 

The initiative will see Smart Forms technology deployed in the MediRecords platform, enabling faster access to new clinical assessment tools and patient surveys. 

The first Smart Form, a Falls Risk Assessment, is expected to be available in MediRecords this month. 

Commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Smart Forms technology was developed to improve health assessment procedures and clinical information sharing, leading to better patient outcomes. This was first demonstrated through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Check Assessment Smart Form. 

Standardised forms can streamline how clinicians capture patient data and simplify how this data is made available for research and other analysis. 

MediRecords Integrations Lead Sanjeed Quaiyumi said Smart Forms would accelerate the introduction of new health assessments within MediRecords. 

“MediRecords is laying the foundations for the adoption of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) in the broader health ecosystem, having developed and implemented an extensive library of FHIR and API resources. Smart Forms provide an exciting new way to gather and share data.” 

What are Smart Forms? 

Smart Forms conform to the HL7 FHIR Structured Data Capture and SMART App Launch Implementation Guides, ensuring seamless interoperability between clinical systems and applications. This standardised approach facilitates exchange of electronic health information across a diverse range of platforms. 

Key benefits of Smart Forms include: 

  • Interoperability: Facilitating seamless data exchange between FHIR-enabled healthcare applications and systems 
  • Adaptability: Customisable forms tailored to specific clinical contexts and user needs 
  • Standardisation: Adherence to standardised data formats and coding conventions for consistency in healthcare data representation 
  • Security: Robust security measures to safeguard patient data and maintain privacy 
  • User-Friendly Interface: Designed for accessibility across various levels of technical expertise 
  • Enhanced Workflow Efficiency: Streamlined data capture, retrieval, and exchange processes for improved decision-making and patient care coordination. 

MediRecords will use Smart Forms to expand its range of clinical templates, starting with the Falls Risks Assessment and extending to inpatient Admissions and Primary Care Assessments forms. 

This initiative underscores MediRecords’ commitment to driving innovation and enhancing healthcare outcomes through cutting-edge technologies. By harnessing the power of CSIRO’s Smart Forms, MediRecords aims to significantly improve data capture options, providing clinicians with advanced tools for delivering personalised patient care. 

MediRecords actively participates in the Sparked FHIR Accelerator community. Sparked is a collaboration between Department of Health and Aged Care, the Australian Digital Health Agency, HL7 Australia and CSIRO’s Australian e-Health Research Centre. 

Media inquiries:

For media inquiries or further information, please contact MediRecords Senior Business Development Manager Tim Pegler via tim.pegler@medirecords.com. 

References: 

Home – AU Core Implementation Guide v0.3.0-ballot (hl7.org.au) 

https://aehrc.csiro.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022_23-AEHRC-Annual-Report.pdf 

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/indigenous-australians/indigenous-health-checks-follow-ups/contents/timeline-of-major-developments-in-health-check-imp  

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Tales from the Frontline: APHA Congress 2024
 
 

April 16, 2024

Tales from the Frontline:
APHA Congress 2024

Members of the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) gathered in glorious weather on the Gold Coast for their annual congress last week but the industry forecast was for turbulence and storms ahead.

Across the two-day event, MediRecords Tim Pegler found that the recurring theme was that many private hospitals are barely breaking even — or are loss-making — and that hospital closures are imminent.

Mental health facilities are struggling to recruit and retain psychiatrists, who can find a better income and lifestyle working privately via telehealth. Private maternity hospitals are also at risk.
 
Tension with the private health insurance (PHI) industry was evident; many APHA members pointed to indexation of PHI fees failing to keep up with escalating costs for labour, IT systems, insurances, administration, cybersecurity, and building costs.
 
PHI representatives returned fire, being critical of private hospitals building new facilities that result in competition for doctors, which are already in scant supply. They said rising costs of living are driving consumers to downgrade their PHI memberships, making them eligible for fewer private hospital procedures.
 
If private hospitals close, particularly in regional areas where doctors are scarce, the impact will be felt throughout the public system with longer waitlists and more pressure on emergency departments.
 
An appetite to find common goals and work together – government, private sector, public sector and PHIs, seemed to be one positive note for the Congress.

Other Congress insights

  • 15 private hospitals have closed in the past year, including 4 mental health facilities.
  • The national shortage of GPs and radiologists is likely to worsen, with a generation of practitioners due for retirement without ready replacements.
  • Private hospital operating costs are rising rapidly while revenue is falling. 43% of hospitals have an EBITDA below 5% and 68% below 10%. A consultant warned that innovation and investment are not occurring and if this doesn’t change further closures are likely.
  • The public system has embraced virtual care more than the private hospital system.
  • Queensland Health has a Surgery Connect program outsourcing waitlisted surgical procedures to private hospitals.
  • PHI representatives say chemotherapy, hospital in the home and rehabilitation in the home programs will be vital to support Australians but more GPs need to refer to these services.
  • The ADHA reported strong growth in use of the My Health Record (MHR), which now houses 50% of pathology reports and 20% of diagnostic imaging reports. It urged more private hospitals to integrate with the MHR, cautioning that disconnected health information systems “are no longer sustainable”.
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    Australian Healthcare Week Wrap-Up!
     
     

    March 22, 2024

    Australian Healthcare Week Wrap-up!

    MediRecords thoroughly enjoyed the hustle and bustle of Australian Healthcare Week in Sydney on 20 and 21 March.

     

    Here are 5 key take-outs from AHW –

    1. Virtual care keeps growing

    Victorian Virtual Emergency Department Clinical Director Loren Sher said the free statewide service is on trajectory to see 200,000 patients this financial year. Dr Sher said: “One of our messages is that we’re not here to replace existing care, we’re here to supplement care and also to fill gaps…” The VVED works with Ambulance Victoria and residential aged care facilities to care for patients that might otherwise attend at busy hospitals, ensuring patients can, “access care… regardless of their postcode, and … access the right level of care”.

    AHW Stage 1

    2. Helping hospitals meet demand may require out-of-the-box thinking

    MediRecords proudly supports the VVED as an e-prescribing platform and we can be a tad one-eyed in thinking digital health tech is an answer to connecting care records, streamlining safe workflows, and helping reduce ambulance ramping and bed blockages. But we were mighty impressed by the modular hospital facilities from Q-bital Healthcare Solutions, who can put an operating theatre on a truck and deliver it to your site to meet escalating clinical demand.

    Q-Bital AHW_PNG

    3. A patient perspective informs patient-centric care

    Former Cleveland Clinic CEO Edward Marx has long been a voice for digital disruption but his stint in a hospital bed with a “widow-maker cancer” underlined his passion for patient-centred care. Mr Marx detailed five pillars for improving patient experience, “most of which can be solved for free”. These included plain language communication, intentionally involving patients in decision making on treatments, and creating an organisation-wide culture of empathy.

    Mr Marx said that healthcare executives should perform ward rounds and hold meetings in labs, nursing stations and other patient-facing areas, to hone their awareness of patient experience. He advocated for AI to accelerate the personalisation of care. “My bank, my airline and my hotel all know me so why doesn’t my hospital?”

    Cleveland Clinic_Edward Marx_AHW

    4.Technology vendors should team up

    A panel of influential information technology leaders delivered a wake-up call to vendors, urging collaboration to research and solve known problems with interoperable solutions. Northern Territory Government Health Chief Clinical Information Officer Dr John F. Lambert said, “If you’re not coming to me with someone in the business who wants to use (the solution), don’t waste my time. You also need an executive who cares enough about it, to take money off something else.”

    AHW

    5. The healthcare workforce is evolving

    St Vincent’s Health Australia Group CEO Chris Blake said there will be as many engineers in healthcare as doctors within a decade. Rapid developments in technology such as AI are one reason for this, but vendors may not always be aligned with buyers. Dr Lambert urged tech suppliers to focus on AI solutions for boring administrative workflows, rather than more glamorous clinical applications that could introduce risk.

    A big thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello, including James Sneddon, Nicole Nixon, Peter Birch and Sophie Turner from Talking HealthTech, Patrick Deegan and Silvia Pfeiffer from Coviu Global, Mike Harman, Dr Avnesh (Avi) Ratnanesan, Jeremy Knibbs and Michelle O’Brien from Health Services Daily, Emily Mara from Pulse+IT, Andy Ellis, Bryan Macdonald, Jonathan Klug and many others.

    AHW Team

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