Whittlesea Leader, Diamond Valley Leader (similar articles)
Katrina Hinschen
Patients’ medical referrals will be a click of a doctor’s mouse away under a new electronic system being trialed in Melbourne’s north.
Plenty Valley and Northern Health eReferral Project, led by Plenty Valley Community Health Service, is one of three Victorian health services consortia selected to lead the pilot program.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the Victorian eReferral Program will make patient referral processes more efficient, safer and reliable.
“Instead of relying on old fashioned paper referrals that can be easily lost or misplaced — this cutting-edge electronic technology makes it quick and easy for GPs to make a referral,” Ms Hennessy said.
The eReferral system will make it more convenient for GPs to create a patient referral from their desktop, select a destination and instantly deliver it electronically to the nominated healthcare provider.
The Andrews Labor Government in partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency is delivering $3.1 million towards the Victorian eReferral Program pilot, which could be adopted nationally.
Plenty Valley Community Health Service will lead the pilot in Melbourne’s north in conjunction with its partners, Northern Health, the Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network, the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network and the Hume Whittlesea Primary Care Partnership.
The system is designed to lead to better integration and co-ordination of health services across Melbourne’s north.