The Victorian Government will fund a medical record upgrade to electronic systems at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
It is part of system-wide reform announced on 21 November, 2024, by Victorian Minister for Health Ms Mary-Anne Thomas.
Thomas said the roll-out of a connected Electronic Medical Record System to all Victorian hospitals was now under way, “reducing paperwork for doctors and nurses so they can focus on giving Victorian patients the care they need, when they need it”.
An investment of $21.4 million will support work to upgrade record-keeping at four more health services to use electronic systems, helping to ensure health services have timely access to secure, accurate, and up-to-date patient information.
Currently, Victoria’s 76 health services use different patient record systems. Some of them use outdated and inefficient paper-based systems.
Replacing paper-based records at health services with electronic medical records helps healthcare workers to deliver higher quality care, reduces the risk of medical errors, and supports more efficient delivery of services.
The latest funds will support the following health services to plan and implement electronic medical records:
- The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
- Eastern Health
- Hume Rural Health Alliance comprising 15 health services including Alpine Health, Benalla Health, Goulburn Valley Health and Northeast Health Wangaratta
- Grampians Rural Health Alliance comprising eight health services including East Grampians Health Service, Central Highlands Rural Health and Maryborough District Health Service.
The upgrades also mean a patient’s medical records move with them regardless of which hospital they are treated at.
Hospitals Victoria and the Department of Health will work with health services to deliver the connected and standardised electronic record management system.
Digitising medical records is also a priority of the Victorian Government plan, Health 2040: Advancing Health, Access and Care, which highlights the importance of using e-health and communications technology to improve outcomes for patients.
“We’re upgrading and modernising our state’s world-class health system to ensure that now and into the future, Victorians can rely on our hospitals to deliver efficient, faster care at an even higher standard,” Thomas said.
“Patient privacy is paramount and these electronic medical record upgrades will give those accessing care the confidence to know that their personal information is secure.”
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