Is This the Way of the Future
By Daryl R Brown DC, DO.

Health Connect SA is conducting a 12 month trial of a communication system aimed at improving the health outcomes of patients with chronic conditions. The web-based system will help improve the health outcomes of patients by facilitating communication and collaboration between the members of the primary health care team and between the team members and the patient. The trial will involve up to 50 general practices as well as other health care providers, such as allied health professionals, community pharmacists and specialists, working in the area covered by three Divisions of General Practice : Adelaide Central and Eastern Division of General Practice : Southern Division of General Practice : Yorke Peninsula Division of General Practice.

The trial will test

• Whether online communication systems are an effective and acceptable method of communicating within the primary health care team.
• If there is an increase in the rate at which GPs and others in the health care team participate in care planning for patients with chronic conditions.
• The effectiveness of the change management techniques used for optimising participation rates by GPs, allied health professionals, pharmacists, specialists and patients.

The trial will be independently evaluated by the Flinders University Department of General Practice, with the findings used to inform the requirements for implementation of a state wide care planning and communication system, to commence in the second half of 2007.

About the system
Consultations undertaken with key stakeholders identified that, in order for the care planning and communication system to be effective, it must:

• Improve health outcomes
• Be simple
• Protect patient privacy
• Provide patient access and control
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between the health care team
• Be accessible at point of care

Based on these criteria, and following an assessment of existing care planning systems the Ozdocsonline system was selected for the trial. This system has been created in Australia by a general practitioner. More information about Ozdocsonline can be found at www.ozdocsonline.com.au.

How the system works
The system enables a general practitioner to create and store a care plan on a secure server, allowing other members of the health care team to access the record securely via the internet. The system’s messaging feature allows the GP to send electronic communication to, and receive it from, other members of the health care team. For example, when a GP includes an allied health professional, such as a chiropractor in the care plan of a patient with Diabetes, the system sends an automatic message to the chiropractor advising them of their inclusion. The chiropractor can then access the system securely to view the care plan prior to their consultation with the patient. Once the chiropractor has seen the patient, the chiropractor can send feedback electronically to the referring GP. Messages and feedback are then stored in the progress notes section on the system. The health care team and the patient can view the progress notes to ascertain the current status of the treatment and what actions are planned. The systems prompt feature reminds members of the health care team to undertake follow up as required. In addition, the system relieves the administration workload of distributing and managing hard-copy care plans, and the time involved in contacting GPs and other health providers via phone fax is also reduced. Patients are also encouraged to play an active role in the management of their condition. The patient consents as to which health providers can view their care plan on the system with the patient able to access their own care plan securely at a time and place convenient to them. The patient can also view and participate in the communication between members of their health care team.

The benefits for Health Care Providers

• It helps health care providers collaborate and communicate with each other to improve the coordination and delivery of multidisciplinary care.
• As the patient has greater access to information about their chronic condition, they are encouraged to take a greater interest in and responsibility for managing their condition.
• The system’s messaging feature allows health care providers to communicate with each other more efficiently.
• Health care providers are automatically advised when a GP has included them in a Patient care plan, giving them immediate access to the care plan.
• Feedback to referring GP is sent electronically.
• The risk of service duplication is reduced eg x-rays. The care plan and notes are stored centrally and are always up to date.
• Encourages better business partnerships between other health providers.
• Raises the profile of health providers and highlights their skills, services and capabilities.
• As the system is web based it can be accessed from any location.

I have been approached to be a part of this trial of which I have accepted as I feel no matter who treats a patient, the patient has got to be the winner. I see this as a great facility to give a patient the best possible outcome for their chronic condition.