HealthSmart
Eastern Health has stated to roll out HealthSMART, an upgraded computer system that will enable GP’s to electronically receive a discharge summary for their patients when discharged from an Eastern Health hospital.
Initially the new system will be for Box Hill hospital and will be introduced to other Eastern Health sites early in 2010.
HealthSMART is the state government program to upgrade the computer systems of Victoria's public hospitals and community health centres. Over the past couple of years it has installed a patient administration system in a number of sites. It is now moving to the next major stage: to install the hospitals' clinical software. Eastern Health is one of two sites to be the first to implement the clinical software, which means the roll out of electronic discharge summaries to general practice is imminent.
HealthSMART will deliver a number of advantages for both the hospital and GPs including a standardised process for generating the discharge summary, comprehensive content and faster delivery to GPs.
HealthLink
The electronic discharge summary will be delivered via the HealthLink secure messaging service. Many practices will already have this service, as a number of pathology companies use it to deliver their results, including pathology (and imaging) results currently delivered from Eastern Health.
- If your practice already has HealthLink, the practice's electronic address will have been stored in the Human Services Directory, the Victorian GP database accessed by hospitals, including Eastern Health. You will be able to receive Eastern Health electronic discharge summaries*.
If you are unsure if your practice has HealthLink, ask yourself the following:
o Do you currently receive pathology or imaging from Eastern Health?
o Can you see a blue HealthLink logo on the toolbar at the bottom right of your screen?
o From the start menu, open all programs. Can you see a program titled HealthLink Six?
If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, you have HealthLink installed on your computer system.
- If you do not have HealthLink software at your practice, and would like to receive electronic discharge summaries from Eastern Health, visit http://www.healthlink.net and click on "subscribe to HealthLink", which is found under useful links on the main page. Then follow the prompts. Subscribing to this service is free for your general practice.
If you are still unsure if your practice has HealthLink, would like to ask any further questions, or to trouble shoot any issues with your HealthLink subscription, contact HealthLink Support on:
Ph 1800 125 036
Fax 1800 151 146
Email helpdesk@healthlink.net
*The MOST widely used clinical information systems will be able to receive the electronic discharge summary, however there are some clinical systems that may not. To find out more contact Healthlink Support.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does Eastern Health access my correct practice details, including my HealthLink address?
The HealthSMART application uses the Victorian Government's Human Services Directory database to access GP contact details, including your electronic HealthLink address. Ensuring your practice details are current on this database is essential. HealthLink supplies the HSD with your practice's electronic address.
I don't have Healthlink, how will I receive discharge summaries?
If Eastern Health has a record of your practice's HealthLink address, then you will receive discharge summaries electronically. However, if no HealthLink address is recorded for your practice on the Human Services Directory, it will default to the fax number recorded and you will get a faxed discharge summary. Failing either of these options, you will get a printout of the discharge summary in the post.
What will the electronic discharge summary look like?
Initially, the electronic discharge summary will only be in plain-text format. It will not have any bolds, italics or fonts. Over time, its presentation will be improved.
What technical support is available?
The vendor that transmits the electronic version of the Discharge Summary is HealthLink. Their helpdesk is available by phoning 1800 125 036. In addition to phone support, HealthLink staff can visit your practice to ensure your systems are configured correctly.
What if my system has a problem? Will I lose discharge summaries en route?
No. The system will never lose a message. For each electronic discharge summary sent by Eastern Health to a GP, Eastern Health will receive a notification when it is successfully received by your practice software, or if an error has occurred. Eastern Health staff will be responsible for regularly monitoring these notifications and also for viewing which discharge summaries are queuing up and NOT being read by GPs. If an electronic discharge summary fails to get through, you will be notified.
What if I work at more than one practice, how will HealthSMART record which practice I want the eDS to go to?
Within HealthSMART and HealthLink, the GP will be allocated a provider number specific to the clinic they work at. This means, if a GP works at 3 clinics, he/she will have three provider numbers, one for each clinic. The report will be sent to the clinic that each individual referral request was generated from.