[LINK] APH: 'Are Australia's seniors ready for E-health?'

[Roger Clarke]

The Clth Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety is conducting an
Inquiry into Cybersafety for Senior Australians
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jscc/senior_australians/index.htm

Submissions are due this Friday 23 March 2012


The release below says that DOHA is being asked the specific question:
'What can a PCEHR do for the oldies?'.

[Partial Answer:  NEHTA and DOHA ignored submissions that it should 
be targeted at people with specific chronic conditions and/or complex 
conditions.  The PCEHR is vanilla-flavoured, i.e. it has no specific 
target.  Hence, even if it happens, it will fail to deliver 
substantial benefits for people with real needs, including seniors.]


From: "News (REPS)" <<mailto:News at aph.gov.au>News at aph.gov.au>
Subject: Are Australia's seniors ready for E-health?
Date: 19 March 2012 3:49:00 PM AEDT
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

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House of Representatives - Email alert service
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Monday 19 March 2012

Are Australia's seniors ready for E-health?

Australia's population is getting older, and government is gearing 
for an increased demand for health care services. But do Australian 
seniors have the skills to access e-health services with the 
introduction of the online Personally Controlled Electronic Health 
Record (PCEHR)?

At its public hearing this week in Canberra, Parliament's Select 
Committee on Cybersafety will ask the Department of Health and Ageing 
about the benefits of transitioning some of Australia's most 
vulnerable-the fragile elderly, mothers with babies, and the 
chronically ill-to the new electronic health record system.

In 2010 the Australian Government dedicated $467 million to build the 
PCEHR system, which has the capacity to streamline and co-ordinate 
treatment for Australia's high need and emergency medical cases.

 From July this year, seniors can choose to register through the PCEHR 
portal, a voluntary service which will give them, nominated carers 
and medical service providers access to the registrant's full medical 
records and treatment plans online.

Committee Chair Senator Catryna Bilyk noted that, since July last 
year, Medicare rebates have been provided to patients in rural, 
remote and outer regional areas for private specialist consultations 
via video conferencing.

The next step is to provide doctors and other medical service 
providers with immediate online access to a consolidated health 
record. The aim is to ensure the right treatment is given when, and 
wherever, it is needed.

"Despite the oblivious health benefits", the Senator said, "the 
Committee will want to know what is being done to ensure the 
integrity and security of this personal health information. It is 
important to find out how Australia's seniors, especially those over 
65 with little experience of the internet, will benefit from moving 
to an online system."

The Committee's public hearing on Wednesday 21 March 2012 will 
commence at 4.15pm in Committee Room 1R5, Parliament House, Canberra.

Audio of proceedings in Committee Room 1R5 will be webcast 
on <http://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament>http://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament.

If you have views on this matter make a submission. Information on 
the inquiry, including the terms of reference and for preparing a 
submission is available from the Committee's inquiry link 
at: <http://www.aph.gov.au/cybersafety-seniors>www.aph.gov.au/cybersafety-seniors.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Media comment: contact the Committee Chair Senator Catryna Bilyk on 
(02) 6277 3349 or mobile 0419 694 512
Background: contact the Inquiry Secretary (02) 6277 4202

Issued by:
Andrew Dawson, media manager, International & Community Relations Office,
Parliament of Australia Tel: (02) 6277 2063 wk, 0401 143 724 mob.

-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law               University of NSW
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University