❓ An inquiry regarding the abandonment of plans for a fully paperless Fiona Stanley Hospital, including budgeted costs, reasons for the change, and alternative record-keeping solutions. The response clarifies the hospital's approach to digital records and limited hard copy storage.
AnsweredQoN 1639Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the decision to move away from plans to make Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) a "paperless" hospital. Can the Minister please explain: (a) what was the budgeted cost for FSH to be "paperless"; (b) what are the extra costs that have caused the "paperless" promise to be abandoned; (c) what conversions are necessary to provide the storage and record keeping facilities needed for hardcopy patient records; and (d) what elements of the hospital’s record keeping, if any, will utilise "paperless" technology?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 February 2014
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
82 days
(a) There was no specific budget for Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) to be 'paperless'. Elements of the program were aimed at reducing the need for paper through the introduction of processes using electronic forms, scanning of patient records and giving clinicians the ability to review information electronically. It is not possible to segregate the portion of the total program funding allocated to planned reduction in the use of paper.
(b) There are no direct extra costs to the FSH Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Program as a result of the scope reduction. However, there may be indirect operational costs when the hospital opens associated with record keeping and storage. These have not yet been quantified.
(c) Patient records will be barcoded and scanned at the end of each episode of care and therefore, there will be no need to keep hardcopies of patient records following discharge. Storage requirements for patient records and notes during episodes of care are being considered. Access to patients' old notes from previous episodes at other sites is also being considered. It should be noted that this requirement is not affected by the reduction in scope.
(d) FSH will use its new technology to create a Digital Medical Record for each patient. Electronic forms will be used for patient notes, and for some select processes including nursing observations. This capability is in addition to capability already available at other sites for electronic requests and referrals.
(b) There are no direct extra costs to the FSH Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Program as a result of the scope reduction. However, there may be indirect operational costs when the hospital opens associated with record keeping and storage. These have not yet been quantified.
(c) Patient records will be barcoded and scanned at the end of each episode of care and therefore, there will be no need to keep hardcopies of patient records following discharge. Storage requirements for patient records and notes during episodes of care are being considered. Access to patients' old notes from previous episodes at other sites is also being considered. It should be noted that this requirement is not affected by the reduction in scope.
(d) FSH will use its new technology to create a Digital Medical Record for each patient. Electronic forms will be used for patient notes, and for some select processes including nursing observations. This capability is in addition to capability already available at other sites for electronic requests and referrals.
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