❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses funding for Seaview Orthotics at Albany Regional Hospital and compatibility issues with ultrasound image formats. The Minister's response clarifies funding processes and outlines steps taken to resolve the software problem.
AnsweredQoN 5772Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the Minister explain why there is no funding for Seaview Orthotics of Bunbury to provide a service at the Albany Regional Hospital?
(2) Why does the radiologist at the hospital have no option but to format ultrasound images onto a CDROM in Windows 7 format, when they cannot be read in this format on Health Department computers?
(2) Why does the radiologist at the hospital have no option but to format ultrasound images onto a CDROM in Windows 7 format, when they cannot be read in this format on Health Department computers?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 August 2011
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
49 days
(1) The funding referred to in this question relates to the Community Aids and Equipment Program (CAEP) which has well defined criteria for access to ensure that the patients with the greatest clinical needs are prioritised. This funding is provided by the Disability Services Commission to the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) annually and is distributed to the WACHS regions on a quarterly basis. Requests for accessing the funding are waitlisted and funded as funds are available.
Seaview Orthotics, in a private arrangement with a previous provider who no longer services the Great Southern, has taken over some referrals and approved submissions to CAEP for equipment funding. This arrangement was made without the involvement of the health service. Seaview Orthotics has increased the fees charged for services significantly, beyond what was approved when originally submitted by the previous provider to the CAEP. Therefore there is a shortfall that will be rectified when the next round of funding is received.
WACHS Great Southern met with Seaview Orthotics on Thursday 7 July 2011 to discuss the CAEP funding guidelines and an appropriate process for CAEP submissions.
(2) The software supplied by the ultrasound company has determined the format in which ultrasound images are provided. Concern regarding the compatibility of the software was raised with the company who indicated that they did not have a solution to the problem. Albany Hospital again raised the issue with the company, who advised they now have an IT solution that will rectify this problem. The Albany Hospital has purchased the software upgrade from the ultrasound company; this occurred 5 July 2011.
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Seaview Orthotics, in a private arrangement with a previous provider who no longer services the Great Southern, has taken over some referrals and approved submissions to CAEP for equipment funding. This arrangement was made without the involvement of the health service. Seaview Orthotics has increased the fees charged for services significantly, beyond what was approved when originally submitted by the previous provider to the CAEP. Therefore there is a shortfall that will be rectified when the next round of funding is received.
WACHS Great Southern met with Seaview Orthotics on Thursday 7 July 2011 to discuss the CAEP funding guidelines and an appropriate process for CAEP submissions.
(2) The software supplied by the ultrasound company has determined the format in which ultrasound images are provided. Concern regarding the compatibility of the software was raised with the company who indicated that they did not have a solution to the problem. Albany Hospital again raised the issue with the company, who advised they now have an IT solution that will rectify this problem. The Albany Hospital has purchased the software upgrade from the ultrasound company; this occurred 5 July 2011.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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