Premier

GP e-Referrals Rolling Out In Melbourne’s North 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 across Melbourne’s north.

Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy, today announced that Plenty Valley and Northern Health eReferral Project, led by Plenty Valley Community Health Service, 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.

Plenty Valley Community Health Service will lead the pilot in Melbourne’s north in conjunction with its partners, Northern Health, the Eastern Melbourne PHN, the North Western Melbourne PHN and the Hume Whittlesea Primary Care Partnership.

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

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.

Quote 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.”

Quote attributable to Member for Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio

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

Quote attributable to Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny

“We’re improving services to make life easier for our GPs and other health professionals so they can continue to provide the very best care for the families in Melbourne’s north, when and where they need it.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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