What’s happening in health?
 
 

February 8, 2024

What’s happening in health?

January has skedaddled and February is upon us. In Australia, that means the kids are back at school, the trains are crowded again, and things are getting serious at work. In the interest of getting you up to speed, here’s a selection of recent happenings in health and healthcare across the globe.

Some come from the frontlines of technology, while others show human connections are increasingly important:

As we enter a newish year, here’s what kept hospital CEO’s up at night in 2023. Do any of these resonate with you?

While we’re on the topic of nightmares, the WHO predicts a 75% increase in global cancer rates over the next 26 years, due to smoking, alcohol use, obesity, ageing and other factors.

Based on that prediction, it’s important that mRNA technology trials have begun with human subjects in the UK. The trial aims to see if introducing cancer ‘markers’ to people can jump-start an additional immune response and boosts their fight against melanoma, lung cancer and other solid tumours – a bit like summoning an extra battalion of internal cancer fighters. It’s early days, but another step toward personalised cancer treatments.

In Australia, government data shows Federal Budget initiatives aimed at increasing bulk billing for medical appointments have had an impact, with rural regions the main beneficiaries.

Scientists have suggested the appendix might not be as expendable, or useless, as generally perceived, and has a hidden role in gut health.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s Neuralink venture says it has put a wireless brain chip in a human. Details are sketchy but Neuralink has previously stated a goal to assist people experiencing paralysis.

Have you heard of orthosomnia? It is a term for the obsessive quest for perfect sleep. A just-published survey found sleep-medicine doctors viewed the sleep-tracking devices that some of us are wearing on our wrists to bed as a contributor to orthosomnia and misperceptions about sleep. Clinically, consumer sleep technology was “neither helpful nor unhelpful”.

The jury is still out on mental-health apps, particularly those reliant on chatbots.

Speaking of mental health, Sesame Street’s Elmo asked the Internet how people were doing and triggered an avalanche of more than 9000 responses from people struggling with mood and mental health. The take-home lesson is the need for regular wellbeing check-ins is real.

Please let us know if anything else has caught your eye. We aim to keep a finger on the pulse throughout 2024.

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    Rural Mental Health Conference 2023: Insights from MediRecords

    November 10, 2023

    Rural Mental Health Conference 2023: Insights from MediRecords

    Peer-support workers are the future of mental-health service provision, including in rural Australia, where the need is among the highest and access to services among the lowest, the Rural Mental Health Conference was told this week.

    Also, the conference heard that talking openly about mental ill health and suicide is essential to reduce stigma, increase understanding and activate prevention initiatives in communities.

    MediRecords was an industry sponsor for the conference in Albury, which was attended by mental health professionals, researchers, advocates and others.

    Conference co-chair Professor Russell Roberts, of Charles Sturt University and the Manna Institute, opened the conference by dispelling the oft-made claim that rural towns were dying. In fact, they have been growing for 20 years, boosted further by an increase in relocation to rural Australia during the pandemic, he said.

    Speakers highlighted workforce challenges including recruitment and retention, and low mental-health literacy, compounded by the housing crisis for people willing to move and live rurally.

    “Peer support workers are the future of mental-health service provision,” said

    Dr Chris Maylea, Associate Professor of Law at La Trobe University.

    Also, he argued that inadequate mental-health services for rural Australians was a breach of human rights.

    “Sub-par services because someone lives in a rural area – we should call that a human-rights violation, not a geographic disparity.”

    Mental Health Australia CEO Carolyn Nikoloski called for a national human-rights act – one that embedded mental health into human rights.

    Other themes from the conference included:

    • A dearth of mental health services in rural areas means people with mental ill health end up in the justice system. As the documentary film Solstice stated, people in urgent need of mental health care don’t get a helicopter flight to Melbourne like accident victims; the more likely options are a busy hospital Emergency Department or police custody.
    • Telehealth is increasingly essential for providing access to services where few or none are available locally and wait lists are long. The Royal Far West Centre for Rural and Remote Children’s Health gave an example of setting up a farmer with video-call technology so he could join a case conference for his daughter from his tractor. Clean Slate Clinic clinical nurse consultant Fiona Faulkner said the home treatment program enabled people in rural areas to seek support without the fear of being ‘outed’ in their small communities.
    • Kelly McGrath, of the Wesley Research Institute, highlighted the way that services need to adapt telehealth to support individuals, ensuring there is personalised tech help and financial support, and sensitivity to how and where people engage with telehealth – from having kids running around in the background or access at the workplace, where there may be insufficient privacy.
    •  Ruralaid is experiencing a significant spike in demand for its services in Queensland, where farmers have been confronted with floods, bushfires, rising costs and falling returns for produce.

    MediRecords is a cloud-hosted electronic health record and client management platform with industry-leading options for secure data sharing. MediRecords supports a broad range of telehealth care providers, including the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department.

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      Critical care: 84% of healthcare workers facing burnout, putting mental health at risk

      October 10, 2023

      84% of healthcare workers
      facing burnout, putting mental health at risk

      On World Mental Health Day, it is timely to remember the importance of supporting the mental health of healthcare workers.

      The latest data from Mental Health Australia’s (MHA) annual survey of the mental well-being of healthcare workers paints a concerning picture.

      The survey found 84% of respondents reported that the pandemic’s demands lead to burnout in 2022.

      The WHO describes burnout as a syndrome caused by unmanaged workplace stress. It includes feeling exhausted, negative about work, and ineffective.

      Burnout is linked to a conceptualised “COVID-19 fourth wave”, alongside psychological trauma, mental illness, and economic strain, according to the US physician, Associate Prof. Victor Tseng.

      Burnout significantly raises the risk of unsafe care by doctors and nurses, studies show.

      In a review of 13 studies involving 20,643 doctors, “physicians with overall burnout had almost three times greater odds of making self-perceived errors,” found a study in the Journal of Patient Safety in 2022. The odds were almost identical for nurses, with burnout likely to providing poor-quality care, a separate study found this year.

      One leading organisation supporting the wellbeing of healthcare professionals is the Black Dog Institute. It established The Essential Network (TEN), which aims to prevent burnout.

      TEN offers practical resources , confidential personalised support and up to five free telehealth sessions.

      “Every Australian has been impacted by COVID-19, but few have felt the brunt of the pandemic more keenly than health professionals,” said Black Dog Institute’s Deputy Director and Chief Psychiatrist, Professor Sam Harvey.

      Mental Health Australia CEO Carolyn Nikoloski said that, for the first time in 20 years, Australia does not have a national mental health and suicide prevention plan. She said: “A national roadmap needs to be developed to address these concerning trends and ensure equitable access to mental health care supports for all people in Australia.”

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        Mental health matters: Government initiatives and honouring R U OK? Day

        September 11, 2023

        Mental health matters: Government initiatives and honouring R U OK? Day

        September is a significant month for mental health awareness, with two significant events shining a spotlight on mental health in Australia and around the world: World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th and R U OK? On September 14th.

        These awareness days highlight the importance of mental health and the critical need for support. In this article, we’ll explore how the Australian government is taking meaningful steps towards strengthening mental health initiatives and our commitment to mental health.

        Government initiatives to promote mental health

        In the lead up to World Suicide Prevention Day, The Hon. Emma McBride MP, provided a statement reaffirming the Australian government’s commitment to mental health. This commitment reflects a broader strategy aimed at creating a mentally healthier Australia.

        Here are some key government initiatives:

        1. Research and innovation: Funding for research and innovative solutions is being channelled into developing more effective treatments and interventions. This ensures that mental health care continually evolves to meet the changing needs of the community.
        2. Accessible services: The government is working towards making mental health services more accessible, breaking down barriers that prevent individuals from seeking help. Telehealth and online support services are being promoted to reach those in remote or underserved areas.
        3. Workforce expansion: The government is investing in expanding the mental health workforce. This initiative will not only create job opportunities but also increase accessibility to mental health services across the country.
        MediRecords’ commitment to mental health

        This Thursday, MediRecords will honour R U OK? Day, which serves as a reminder that a single conversation can be a lifeline for someone battling mental health challenges. MediRecords is committed to this cause, understanding the immense value of connecting with others during their times of need.

        We also understand the importance of aiding mental health professionals in providing quality care to their patients. Our electronic health record and patient management system is designed to streamline administrative tasks, giving practitioners more time to focus on patient care. Through customisable templates, secure data storage, and user-friendly tools, we help mental health professionals simplify the documentation process.

        As we mark World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK? Day this week, MediRecords stands with the government and the mental health community in prioritising mental health care. Together, we can create a brighter, more supportive future for mental health in Australia.

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          MediRecords stepping into outpatient clinics at MQ Health

          July 10, 2023

          Media release

          MediRecords stepping
          into outpatient clinics
          at MQ Health

          Leading Australian cloud health software company MediRecords will be the new clinical record system for MQ Health outpatient clinics.

           

          MediRecords has been selected following a competitive tender process to support 18 clinics providing a range of services including breast health, cardiology, endocrinology, haematology, neuropsychology, neurology, ophthalmology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and urology.

          The project will also involve integration with MQ Health’s electronic medical record, an InterSystems TrakCare solution.

          MediRecords CEO Matthew Galetto welcomed the partnership with MQ Health’s leading clinicians, researchers, students, and Australia’s first university-owned teaching hospital.

          “This is an amazing opportunity to support the work of multidisciplinary outpatient clinics providing such vital services to Sydney residents,” Mr Galetto said. “We look forward to working with MQ Health teams and getting data migration and implementation under way.”

          MediRecords supports hospital and outpatient clinic clients including:

          • The Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and Northern Health mental health team, as an ePrescribing system
          • Queensland Health’s Metro North Virtual Emergency Department as an ePrescribing system
          • 13 Queensland Health Hospital and Health Services as a billing and claiming system for outpatient clinics
          • My Emergency Doctor virtual teams providing senior emergency physicians to Urgent Care Centres, hospitals and ambulance services across Australia
          • Private hospital Visiting Medical Officer consulting suites as an electronic health record (EHR) and patient management system.

          MediRecords is also the clinical EHR for another major university.

          For the full list of MQ Health clinics, see MQ Health Medical Services & Clinics.

          Media inquiries

          To arrange to speak with Mr Galetto, or for further information on the MQ Health project, please email Tim Pegler or call  0412485146.

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            MediRecords on FHIR at Northern Health
             

            January 31, 2023

            Media release

            MediRecords on FHIR
            at Northern Health

            Mental Health teams at Northern Health now have access to the MediRecords e-Prescribing platform, following successful integrations with the hospital’s patient administration system (PAS) and Clinical Patient Folder (CPF) software.

             

            The pioneering FHIR (Fast Health Interoperability Resources) connections mean doctors don’t have to search a second database for patient records and can generate electronic prescriptions quickly, informed by current clinical information, including allergies and medication histories. Prescription records are then sent to CPF in real time, and no longer have to be posted to patients or manually scanned and uploaded to hospital digital records.

            The FHIR go-live signals Phase 2 of MediRecords’ implementation at Northern Health, following an initial launch as a stand-alone system for Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED) doctors in July 2022. Wider use of the e-Prescribing system is being adopted, with Northern’s Outpatient clinics and mental health included in a staggered roll out from 31st January 2023. This implementation was the first FHIR implementation performed at Northern Health.

            MediRecords Chief Executive Officer Matthew Galetto said Northern Health had demonstrated the benefits of using industry-leading FHIR technology to streamline data interoperability and support efficient patient care in a hospital setting.

            “It is important for healthcare organisations investing in new digital health projects to future proof their investments by adopting the latest standards. Implementing FHIR will help organisations stay ahead of the curve and meet near future regulatory requirements,” Mr Galetto said.

            Mr Galetto said MediRecords would be releasing additional FHIR integration pathways for clients throughout 2023, as part of the Connect pillar underpinning the MediRecords platform.

            “We are fortunate to be at the forefront of FHIR development in Australia, thanks to our role in the Leidos-led consortium delivering a new Health Knowledge Management (HKM) system for the Australian Defence Force,” Mr Galetto said.

            “Data sharing for the HKM project has applicability throughout Australian healthcare and means we will be able to connect health care records in primary care all the way up to hospital, or tertiary care. This will help provide patients and clinicians with access to the right data at the right time, with significant safety benefits.”

            Mr Galetto thanked Northern Health for being an early adopter of the technology, the first time MediRecords has been deployed in a hospital setting supporting virtual care.

            “The Northern Health team are pioneers in virtual care and are now leading the way in connecting patient information systems.”

            Northern Health’s Mental Health Division provides hospital-based, community and specialist mental health services to youth, adults and aged people across northern and western Melbourne. The introduction of ePrescribing means prescriptions can be sent instantly and electronically to patients or carers, with a QR code to be scanned at pharmacies for dispensing. This provides significantly faster access to new and repeat medications for mental health clients.

            Media inquiries

            For further information, please email Matthew Galetto on matthew@medirecords.com or Tim Pegler at tim.pegler@medirecords.com

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              8 health-tech trends to watch in 2023
               

              January 13, 2023

              8 health-tech trends to watch in 2023

              Tim Pegler

              Tim Pegler - MediRecords Senior Business Development Manager

              The pandemic years have been actioned-packed for health-tech. What have we learned and what can we expect from 2023?

              1. The cloud is (still) coming 

              Based on conversations with customers, the market is increasingly aware of the security and infrastructure benefits of shifting to cloud. So why is the transition so slow? Partly because the healthcare industry is often understaffed, time poor and therefore change averse. The good news is that those who embrace fresh and more flexible technology rarely look back.

              Speaking of shiny and new…

              2. Robots are here to help 

              Staff shortages due to illness, burnout and pandemic-related workforce changes necessitate doing more with less. We can expect automation to play a bigger role in repetitive tasks, and robots to play support and even investigative roles.

              Exhibit A: Robot dietitian RMC adds robot dietician (thetandd.com)

              Exhibit B: Robot meds Mayo Clinic picks up stake in startup making pill-sized robot (beckershospitalreview.com)

              Exhibit C: AI bed management NUHS’s AI platform predicts bed state 2 weeks in advance | Healthcare IT News

              Exhibit D: Robot cleaning crews Cameron employs robots to super clean facilities | Heraldrepublican | kpcnews.com

              The automation trend also means…

              3. Lock in telehealth

              Virtual and remote care are generally cheaper than hospital beds (How to implement a virtual ED in 10 weeks – Wild Health Summits : Connectivity) and more consumer friendly than queuing for in-person care (see The cost and carbon savings of telehealth, quantified (beckershospitalreview.com)). Virtual mental health care, in particular, appears to be cementing its role. However, digital literacy and equitable access to technology, including Internet coverage, can be barriers to care.  Successful virtual care hinges on having accurate information, tools and help whenever needed so…

              4. Maybe it’s time to make new friends

              Difficulty accessing developers and tight tech budgets mean partnering can be the faster (and cheaper) path to product enhancement, in contrast to D-I-Y builds. Which means…

              5. Interoperability is king

              Products designed for integration have a strategic advantage over those that have not committed to interoperability at their core. Speaking the same language helps and Fast Health Interoperability Resources (FHIR) (Welcome to the HL7 FHIR Foundation) are the way to future-proof your health tech. Another interoperability truth is…

              6. Clean data counts

              Making sense out of a hotchpotch of data dropped into a free-text box is time consuming and painful for data analysis. Storing information in a logical, consistent and correctly coded format (MediRecords uses SNOMED CT AU SNOMED CT-AU and Australian Medicines Terminology June 2022 Release | Australian Digital Health Agency) helps the data wranglers do their thing. Quality, clean, actionable data has value and needs to be kept safe because…

              7. Cyber attacks are on the rise

              US data shows ransomware attacks more than doubled from 2016 to 2021 (JAMA Health Forum – Health Policy, Health Care Reform, Health Affairs | JAMA Health Forum | JAMA Network). The UK and Australia are also under siege. Minimising risk is mandatory and, while no system is risk-free, cloud technology allows you to outsource security management and those never-ending software updates so you can concentrate on core business.  This is important because…

              8. Change is gonna come

              Australian governments are still exploring how to introduce systemic change following royal commissions into aged care and mental health services (Victoria). Royal commissions are ongoing into disability, and defence and veteran suicide. The Australian Digital Health Agency is promoting collaboration and reform. NSW is working on a Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR). Victoria is moving toward a health-information exchange system, connected to a statewide Mental Health Client Management System. Queensland is pursuing better health information connectivity and remote monitoring options. Tasmania has a digital transformation strategy underway. There are versions of virtual emergency departments emerging across Australia…

              Buckle up. 2023 could be a wild ride.

              About MediRecords

              MediRecords is a FHIR-enabled, true cloud clinical platform with ePrescribing and telehealth integrations. MediRecords supports GP, multidisciplinary and specialist clinics across Australia and is working with Queensland Health, the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department and the Australian Defence Force on innovative models of care delivery. Please book a demo if you’d like to discuss solutions for your business.

              Want to dive deeper? Further reading below:

              2023 predictions: Health tech suppliers give their verdict (digitalhealth.net)

              What health tech trends CIOs are focused on in 2023 (beckershospitalreview.com)

              Virtual everything, asynchronous care, sustainability: Healthcare innovation predictions for ’23 (beckershospitalreview.com)

              CMIOs on what to project for 2023 (beckershospitalreview.com)

              Digital Health Review of the Year 2022

              MR.R4.CORE\Home – FHIR v4.0.1 (medirecords.com)

              Report: Telehealth accounts for about 10% of outpatient visits | MobiHealthNews

              The King’s Fund interoperability report highlights relationships and tech (digitalhealth.net)

              Russian hacking group ‘KillNet’ targets US healthcare (beckershospitalreview.com)

              2023 forecast: 7 big-picture goals for hospital leaders (fiercehealthcare.com)

              Top 10 hospital and payer trends to watch in 2023 | Healthcare Finance News

              National Digital Health Strategy and Framework for Action | Australian Digital Health Agency

              Digital Health Transformation – Improving Patient Outcomes 2022-2032 | Tasmanian Department of Health

              DOH-Strategic-Plan-Nov-2022-update.pdf (health.qld.gov.au)

              victorias-digital-health-roadmap.pdf

              Single digital patient record set to deliver vastly improved patient experience | eHealth NSW

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                MediRecords partner with The BlackDog Institute to provide cloud-based practice management software

                BlackDog Institute Logo

                August 14, 2020

                MediRecords partner with The BlackDog Institute

                MediRecords BlackDog Institute announce partnership
                Matthew Galetto MediRecords banner

                Matthew Galleto

                MediRecords partner with The BlackDog Institute to provide cloud-based practice management software

                The team at MediRecords are delighted to announce we are now working with the world-renowned BlackDog Institute.

                BlackDog, global leaders in suicide prevention research, also provide mental health advocacy, education, and treatment across Australia. They have led awareness for the increased rates of mental illness as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and MediRecords will be further supporting their work to be more secure and accessible for patients through digital innovation.

                 

                 

                How will MediRecords help BlackDog?

                Put simply, by greatly improving the way they share information and data.  

                The ability to exchange information between healthcare providers securely is essential in mental health treatment – there are often multiple care providers across primary, allied, hospital and community care and the patient’s treatment can extend over a lifetime.

                Improved access breaks down barriers to care. MediRecords allows patients and clinicians to connect virtually, provides clinicians with inbuilt Telehealth, and is a full practice management system for appointments, billing, online claiming, staff rostering, client management and secure messaging.

                The bottom line is BlackDog can now manage all aspects of patient care through an online, secure practice management system. Our MediRecords solution will allow BlackDog to provide improved, accessible and timely care for patients. This will create detailed, secure and useful data that improves patient outcomes and informs better service planning for the future.

                 

                 

                What does this mean for MediRecords?

                This partnership represents another notable success for the team here at MediRecords, following our recently announced partnership with Healthdirect and our successful rollout across Queensland Health.

                Our Founder and CEO Matthew Galetto commented “We are very excited about partnering with the Black Dog Institute, who do such important work in suicide prevention and improving outcomes for people with Mental Health issues. We are really looking forward to supporting them in achieving their strategic goal of becoming a leader in e-health through innovative models of care.”

                 

                About The BlackDog Institute

                Since their foundation in 1985, The BlackDog Institute have been at the forefront of mental health research. Rapidly evolving to drive the creation of new knowledge and ensure that clinical best practice continues to be improved and refined in line with the latest evidence.

                Today, their focus has expanded to address new challenges and opportunities in mental health – suicide prevention, digital innovation, lived experience, youth and workplace mental health. Their work in mood disorders continues through the investigation of new and better ways to treat and prevent conditions like anxiety and depression through digital tools and novel treatments.

                 

                About MediRecords

                MediRecords is an Australian owned provider of cloud-based electronic medical record and practice management systems. Founded in 2014, their clients range from individual GP, specialist and allied health practices to enterprise scale healthcare providers across Australia.

                For more information please get in touch.

                Matthew Galetto MediRecords banner

                Matthew Galleto

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