Golden Dragon, a Chinese company, have begun marketing an electronic cigarette to help smokers quit - the eCigarette. The battery powered cigarette looks like the genuine article, right down to the vapour it emits whilst being 'smoked' and the nicotine it delivers to the user's lungs. The difference? The multitudinous carcinogenic and other chemicals are stripped away.
The gizmo is already sold in China, Turkey, Israel and a number of European nations. Time will only tell if it is a 'quitting tool' or simply a substitute for the non-battery cigarette variety.
Apr 2007
Written by Jane London
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
NeHTA Appoints New Chair
NeHTA recently appointed Uschi Schreiber, Director-General of Queensland Health, as the Chair of NeHTA Board of Directors.
Dr Ian Reinecke, CEO of NeHTA, stated, "We are delighted with the Board’s decision to appoint Uschi Schreiber as the new NEHTA Chair. Uschi brings a wealth of experience in implementing public sector reform and representing the interests of health reform in Australia. I look forward to working with her and the Board of Directors to achieve our goals over the next few years."
Ms Schreiber has been a director of NeHTA since 2005 and as Chair succeeds the first Chair of NeHTA , Patricia Faulkner.
“Patricia has made a significant and valuable contribution to NEHTA during her tenure as Chair and has had a major influence on the advancement of the NEHTA work program so far,” said Dr Reinecke. “On behalf of NEHTA I wish Patricia well with her new endeavours in the private sector.”
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 April 2007 )
Mar 2007
Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 07 March 2007
Access Card Hearings
Recently public hearings relating tothe Inquiry into the Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill 2007 were conducted in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. These hearings devled into a number of issues relating to the proposed health Access Card and a number of organisations spoke to the myriadIM/IT issues. Further information, including the transcripts can be found here.
Shortly, the official submission from the RACGP will be placed on their website here.
Jan 2007
Written by Jane London
Thursday, 04 January 2007
January News Coming Soon...
Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 January 2007 )
Nov 2006
Written by Jane London
Friday, 03 November 2006
Healthelink EHR
NSW Health is piloting a new electronic health record called Healthelink in parts of NSW. Healthelink brings together summaries of health information for individuals from different GPs, hospitals and community health centres and puts it into one secure computer record. A major benefit of Healthelink is that all of the participating healthcare providers will be able to see the same record. Participation in Healthelink is on an opt-out basis and has many benefits for both healthcare providers and individuals.
NSW Health (through Health Technology) is a currently implementing a pilot across two geographical areas. The Greater Western Sydney area includes children aged 15 and under living in selected postcodes between Parramatta and Penrith. In the Maitland area people 65 and over are eligible to participate. For more information, please go to the Healthelink EHR web site - www.healthelink.nsw.gov.au
Last Updated ( Friday, 10 November 2006 )
Oct 2006
Written by Jane London
Tuesday, 19 September 2006
PIP IM/IT Changes
Changes to be implemented by October 31 relating to PIP IM/IT payments have witnessed the three tier program collapsed into two tiers:
Tier 1 – Basic*
The practice maintains electronic patient records, which include clinical data on allergies/sensitivities for the majority of active patients. In addition, the practice implements appropriate information security measures (e.g. virus protection, firewall, backup and recovery, access control and practice procedures/processes to support/maintain appropriate information security). The practice also uses appropriate security (e.g. encryption systems) when patient information and/or clinical data are transferred electronically.
Tier 2 – Enhanced*
The practice qualifies for Tier 1 and uses electronic patient records to record and store clinical information on patients, including current and past major diagnoses and current medications for the majority of active patients.
*Taken from Medicare Australia website.
These changes continue to take into their scope the RACGP Standards for General Practices and the GPCG Computer Security Self-Assessment Guideline and Checklist for General Practitioners.
The GPCG guideline can be found here. Templates for use based on the guideline can be found here (including disaster recovery template)
To access the PIP IM/IT documents, including guidelines, Q&A and application forms visit Medicare Australia or call the PIP enquiry line on 1800 222 032.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 October 2006 )
September 2006
Written by Jane London
Monday, 21 August 2006
September news
Standards Australia’s IT-014 Health Informatics Committee Website
e-health standards matter whether you are a clinician, consumer, health care worker, software developer, or from industry, government or special interest groups. The Standards Australia e-health website offers you information about current Australian and global e-health standards development projects, events and organisations. Go to Standards Australia IT-014 for more information.
Queensland Health's GP Connect
GP Connect is a tested, secure system that delivers electronic Queensland Health Pathology results to a wide range of practice management software products. More than 2900 doctors in 600 practices around the state already use the service. The system utilises HL7 v2.3.1 messaging standards and can also accommodate products requiring PIT format. Go to Queensland Health for more information.
Putting prevention into practice (the 'Green Book')
These RACGP guidelines contain examples of how introduced concepts have been applied to everyday practice and a series of activities that allow reflection on how key strategies can be introduced into your practice. IT-IM concepts are also approached. Go to the online Green Book for more information.
Last Updated ( Monday, 21 August 2006 )
August 2006
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 27 June 2006
Electronic Records: a cautionary tale
A recent GP Review article looks at some of the risks posed by the use of electronic medical records.
The internet is beginning to play a part in the general practice consultation. But what are the benefits of technology-based consultations, and what are the risks?
Electronic communication between doctors and patients has recently been in the news. The GPCG has developed fact sheets designed to provide general practitioners with information on the benefits of sharing information and issues involved in using e-communication.
The fact sheets are practical, commenting on email rules, safety issues, how to protect the practice, including suitable email footers and a list of 'do's' and 'do nots'.
There is a companion sheet for patients.
You can access PDF versions of the fact sheets here.
Functional Specifications for Clinical and Administrative GP Computer Systems
While nine years is a long time in information management and you might think that you could ignore a 1997 report. Think again!
In late January 1997, the then Department of Health and Family Services General Practice Branch engaged the IBM Consulting Group to conduct a project to deliver an appropriate functional requirements specification and supporting technical framework for Clinical and Administrative General Practice Computer Systems (GPCS). The report investigated a broad range of issues surrounding the development, utility, adoption and effective use of the GPCS.
Given the focus of NeHTA, this groundbreaking report provides a basis for current thinking. You can view the report at Functional Specifications.
“There are two types of computerized practices . . .those that have lost data . . . and those that are about to lose data.” Dr Rob Hosking, of the GPCG argued the inevitability of security breaches and how the GPCG security guidelines, checklist and firewalls guide provided the basis for general practice assurance. You can view his presentation here: racgp_asc05_present.ppt (779.00 KB).
A second presentation outlines a real life security breach and how Rob handled the situation. You can view that presentation here: examples_security_breach.pdf (11.93 KB)
A/Prof Peter Schattner then looked at the new RACGP standards and considered how you can use your IT/IM systems to support accreditation. Reflecting on quality improvement, Peter argues that computers support quality improvement but come with their own unique frustration.
Throughout 2005 the GPCG has been very active in the standards area. We have supported representation at national and international meetings of significance until June 2005. The GPCG is concerned that the expert input of general practitioner experts has been considerably reduced, as GPCG can no longer support representation.
It is critical to the future of e-health initiatives that the end users – the doctors of Australia – are meaningfully engaged in the development of e-health tools and products. Representation on collaborative committees is one way of providing engagement and sharing understanding of the issues, uses and limitations of current systems.
The GPCG Secretariat office in the National Press Club (Canberra) closed on Friday, 29 July and has relocated to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in South Melbourne.
As of Monday 1 August, you can contact the GPCG by: Phone: 03 8699 0414 By email:
RACGP Continues to Support the General Practice Computing Group
Media Release 18 August, 2005
In light of the recent Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing decision to cease funding support for the important work of the General Practice Computing Group (GPCG), the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is continuing its support for the organisation’s activities. For more see 10805racgp_gpcg.pdf (62.89 KB)
The GPCG is pleased to provide all medical practices and divisions of general practice with a complementary copy of the newly released Firewall Guideline. This publication is an additional module to the GPCG Security Guideline distributed earlier this year.
Business as Usual for the GPCG - It's too valuable to lose
Following the meeting of the GPCG Management Committee on Wednesday 29 June, members were determined that the collective knowledge, expertise and cohesion built up over the past 8 years should not be allowed to disipate.
The GPCG Security Guidelines and Checklist were distributed to every medical practice and division of general practice during February 2005. By participating in this survey you will be assisting the GPCG to improve the quality of the publications we produce.
Public comment on draft standard - EHR Definition, Scope and Context
There has been much confusion and disagreement about the definition and scope of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) over the past few years both in Australia and internationally. This document is an important “reference” standard to be used by those who are developing and implementing present and future technical standards for the EHR. The EHR and Harmonisation Subcommittee (IT-14-9) are taking the recently published ISO/TR 20514 Technical Report and upgrading it, with modifications where appropriate, to a full Australian Standard to give the definitions contained in the TR more normative weight.
Public comment on draft standard - EHR Definition, Scope and Context
There has been much confusion and disagreement about the definition and scope of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) over the past few years both in Australia and internationally. This document is an important “reference” standard to be used by those who are developing and implementing present and future technical standards for the EHR. The EHR and Harmonisation Subcommittee (IT-14-9) are taking the recently published ISO/TR 20514 Technical Report and upgrading it, with modifications where appropriate, to a full Australian Standard to give the definitions contained in the TR more normative weight.
The GPCG has submitted a Strategic Plan 2005-2008 to the Department of Health and Ageing following wide ranging consultations and receiving feedback from key GPCG stakeholders and members. This Strategic Plan supports a submission for ongoing funding for the GPCG following the end of this financial year.
gpreview_erecords.pdf (
racgp_asc05_present.ppt (