Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Effective Information and Communication Technology is vital for maintaining good quality patient data in General Practice. Our goal is to encourage and support practices to introduce and maintain a single Electronic Health Record, preferably in a paperless environment.

Electronic Health Records better enable general practice to effectively manage patients with chronic and complex diseases and conditions, use Medicare Funding Initiatives advantageously and minimise risks associated with follow-up and diagnostic results.

We can assist practices in a number of areas:

• Information Management
• Training
• Remote Access Technologies
• Electronic Medical Records
• Data Analysis
• Secure Messaging

Information Management

The range of Information Management support includes: processes and systems to support Electronic Medical Records, data quality and analysis, legislative requirements on privacy, backup, recovery, security risk minimisation, and system planning and development. 

Training

We provide various training in both software and hardware. Topics include: clinical software packages, data cleansing, creating and using templates, document scanning, remote access from patients’ homes or RACFs, and data analysis. 

Remote Access Technologies

We support the introduction of remote access technologies by advising on type of technologies available, basic requirements, pitfalls, negotiation of provider contracts, and security. 

Electronic Medical Records

We can assist with the introduction of Electronic Medical Records by providing information on: methods of scanning, image types, storage of originals, document-scanning services, clinical software packages, transition from paper to electronic etc.

The aim is to avoid the risks associated with dual records for the same patient, i.e. paper and electronic. 

Data Analysis

We have a current licence for the Pen Clinical Audit Tool for the practices in the funded area. PEN is used for data analysis of patient information. It can assist general practitioners and practice staff to improve patient data quality, benchmarking, identify target risk groups for chronic disease prevention and management, and optimize practice incentive payments by identifying patient who qualify for care plans and other funded initiatives. 

Secure Messaging

Secure Messaging between locations and other providers is designed to significantly reduce the costs associated with traditional means of patient notifications whilst providing secure transfer of information and certainty. We assist with the implementation of software, such as Argus, PKI and provide information on new technologies such as Bond Wireless, Mobile Phone SMS (Short Message Service).

For further information or enquiries contact the ICT Coordinator on 03 9353 8555 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it