technology
Your say on My
Health
T
The government’s Digital
Health Agency is planning
town halls and more in its
search for input from all
stakeholders on the current
and future state of eHealth.
be responsible for the digital health strategy for the country. That
is how the Australian Digital Health Agency was created.
Monica Trujillo interviewed
by Dallas Bastian
Many people want to be more informed and involved with their own
care and learn how to prevent illness, keep healthier, and improve
their wellbeing. Some of that can only be enabled into the future
by some of the digital tools and technology that can assist people,
particularly in Australia, where we have a big landscape and people
in remote areas. I personally see technology as a great equaliser for
people to access information at their fingertips. The consultation was
set up as a real co-production of what people want, aspire to, and
need in able to have happier and healthier lives.
What is different about this is that it’s true co-production. We’re
engaging all the areas of the community with consumers, their carers,
clinicians, healthcare providers, the peak bodies, the research area,
industry and the technology sector, to make sure what we do is
shaped by what they need, what they want, and what they aspire to.
What we’ve [launched] is a true consultation process at all levels. We
want to hear from the grassroots clinicians, consumers, carers, from
everyone around the health ecosystem and the industry that supports
it. [We want them to tell us] what they see in the future, and how we
can improve health by data and technology. To allow that, we need to
be able to reach wide, and that’s why the consultation was launched,
to be a true co-production.
here’s a new way for health professionals and consumers
to let policymakers know their opinions on the My Health
Record system, telehealth, innovation and other aspects of
digital healthcare.
The Australian Digital Health Agency has launched a national
consultation with the general public, clinicians, healthcare
providers and researchers to help assess the current state of digital
healthcare and how it will look in the future.
The findings will be used to help develop a national digital health
strategy for delivery to government in 2017.
Dr Monica Trujillo, the Digital Health Agency’s executive general
manager, clinical and consumer engagement, said: “We want to
work with all areas of the community – including patients and the
public, carers, healthcare providers, scientists and researchers,
entrepreneurs and technology innovators – to ensure that what
we do is always shaped around their needs, wants and aspirations.”
Aged Care Insite sits down with Trujillo to discuss the national
consultation and the type of information the Agency is hoping
to gather.
ACI: Why did the Australian Government set up the Australian
Digital Health Agency?
MT: The Australian Digital Health Agency commenced operations
on July 1, and its task is to improve health outcomes for Australians
through the delivery of digital health services. It was created
via activities and resources from [the then] National E-Health
Transition Authority (NEHTA), and also a section of the digital
health branch from the Commonwealth Department of Health.
If you recall, there was a review of the personally controlled
electronic health record and reports on the recommendations for
that. One recommendation was to create one agency that would
36 agedcareinsite.com.au
Why was the national consultation launched and what
particular elements of digital health are you hoping to gather
information about?
What are some of the ways community members and, in
particular, health professionals can be part of the consultation
and ensure their voices are heard?
You can do it different ways. We obviously are using online [avenues],
such as social media. [Our website is open] and there people can look
at the different ways they can contribute. One of them is to fill in the
survey as an individual. We will also be travelling through the whole
country and listening, and having town halls. We have events listed on
the website as well. We also have our email. ■
For more information on how to offer your input, go to:
conversation.digitalhealth.gov.au