Premier

GP e-Referrals Rolling Out In Melbourne's East For Better Patient Care

07 September 2016

A new, secure electronic medical referral system for GPs that will make it easier and safer to share patient health information will be piloted at selected health services in Melbourne’s east.

Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy, today announced Connecting Health Care in the east consortium led by Eastern Health was one of three Victorian health services consortiums selected to lead a pilot of the new Victorian eReferral Program.

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.

The Victorian eReferral Program will find new ways of making the patient referral processes more efficient, safer and reliable at the three pilot sites across Victoria.

It will make it more convenient and quicker for GPs to create a patient referral from their desktop, select a destination and instantly deliver it electronically to the nominated healthcare provider.

Eastern Health will lead the pilot in Melbourne’s east in conjunction with its partners, Austin Health, the Eastern Melbourne PHN, Connect 4 Health and Banyule Community Health Service.

The system is designed to lead to better integration and coordination of health services across Melbourne’s east.

The Labor Government’s 2016/17 Victorian Budget provided an extra $2.45 billion for health, so hospitals can admit more patients, reduce waiting times, upgrade buildings and infrastructure and keep Victorians healthy.

We are ensuring patients can receive the care they need, when they need it, and this includes delivering modern ICT technology that can deliver seamless continuity of care and better patient outcomes.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy

“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.”

“By investing in new technology and trialling new systems we’re making sure our hardworking doctors and nurses have the support they need to do their jobs.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan Shaun Leane

“This pilot will help make life easier for our GPs and other health professionals here in the East so they can continue to provide the very best care for the local community, when and where they need it.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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