Monash Health and Sunraysia Community Health Services (SCHS) are the latest healthcare providers to embark on EMR journeys.

Monash Health has commenced the rollout of Global Health’s MasterCare EMR solution across its drug and alcohol services division, while SCHS will implement a suite of software applications centred around Global Health’s client management and data collection EMR system.

Both organisations join the ranks of Bass Coast Health, Justice Health Victoria, Fremantle Hospital and the Black Dog Institute for their recent MasterCare EMR deployments.

Global Health said Monash Health is the third Victorian Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service to adopt the platform. Windana Drug and Alcohol and Bass Coast Health were the two early adopters for Victorian Alcohol and Drug Services (VADC) in mid-2018.

MasterCare General Manager Kye Cherian said core function for Monash Health Drug and Alcohol services will be to ensure that it can effectively manage clients, in line with new VADC data capture and reporting requirements.

The requirements were amended in November 2018 to remove identified discrepancies between data element definitions and ensure that data quality is fit for purpose.

“With the concentration of the Australian Government in this area and a Royal Commission in Victoria, highly sophisticated and flexible platforms which allow for electronic connectivity, data collection and retention, secure messaging, coordination of services and recordings necessary for government compliance are increasingly essential in this complex area,” he said.

Cherian also said the company is starting to see trends in data reporting requirements across both state and federal programs that require more structure and data integrity.

“MasterCare… has a robust episodic framework that supports these structured community programs,” he said.

As for the SCHS deployment, the deal also includes features modules from Global Health’s new-generation mobile-optimised, SaaS-based MasterCare+ solution.

These include the Lifecard consumer health record, ReferralNet for secure message delivery, Patient Portal for online admissions and the HotHealth engagement portal.

MasterCare Data Warehouse will also be deployed to support real-time data analysis using dashboards. The new platform is scheduled to be operational by July 1.

[Read more: Fremantle Hospital deploys EMR system for better support of care in WA | University Hospital Geelong improves ED clinical workflows]

Cherian said implementing MasterCare EMR across SCHS’ various health services will enable the organisation to produce a complete electronic health record for each patient using a standardised ‘Collect Once – Use Often’ methodology, which aims to collect patient information only once.

SCHS’ broad range of state and federally funded programs in North West Victoria include the Community Health Program, Commonwealth Home Support Program, Home and Community Care Program for Younger People, Alcohol and Other Drug programs, National Disability Insurance Scheme and Primary Health Networks.

“Each program has different minimum dataset requirements and reporting processes. By broadening the scope of the engagement beyond standard data collection criteria, SCHS will experience the combined benefits of taking a holistic approach to patient management, data capture and reporting through a single platform,” Cherian said.

“These include streamlined data collection, electronic patient records, enhanced community health program reporting and improved patient engagement.”