Regional health service Barwon Health in Geelong, Victoria is set to implement a community EMR system next year.

Based on a media release, the cloud-based EMR system will utilise Salesforce Health Cloud to provide real-time access to clinical information, resources, and appointment times. Its design will also incorporate security and privacy controls.

The health service tapped local software integrator Mav3rik to implement the system across Barwon Health's services and Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Services (except for the Swanston Centre).  

WHY IT MATTERS

According to Barwon Health, the community EMR is one of the Victorian public health system's first platform-based solutions for community health settings. It is intended to digitise health records for community and mental health patients. 

"Access to this real-time Barwon Health consumer information will enable clinicians to better respond to each care episode to a level not previously possible in a paper-based health record environment," claimed Barwon Health Chief Information Officer Andrew Macfarlane.

"Clinicians will be able to gain access to the full picture of their consumer’s healthcare experience, and consumers will also be able to access their own Barwon Health information," he added.

The platform will also allow consumers to have greater control and choice over their health, said Jackie James, Hospital Admission Risk Program community clinician.

"The portal will offer an avenue for consumers to access up-to-date information about their healthcare, get valuable health education and resources and communicate with their healthcare providers," she explained.

Additionally, the community EMR will help reduce paperwork and provide staff quick access to information while on the road for visitation.

THE LARGER TREND

Barwon Health has continuously digitised its processes and services in recent years.

When the highly-contagious Delta variant caused a new outbreak last year, the health service launched the CovaxApp, a vaccine booking and administration tool, to support its vaccination drive. The app was launched ahead of the rollout of a state-wide online vaccine booking platform by the Victorian government.

To have a single source of data that supports real-time analysis, Barwon Health, along with the South West Alliance of Rural Health, implemented InterSystems' IRIS for Health platform to simplify and accelerate the process of extracting value from healthcare data in real-time.