Quote Of The Year

Timeless Quotes - Sadly The Late Paul Shetler - "Its not Your Health Record it's a Government Record Of Your Health Information"

or

H. L. Mencken - "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."

Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Summary Of the Coverage Of The New NEHTA Chairman. Hardly Much Variety But Some Useful Quotes!

Over last week I kept an eye on the different reporting on the new NEHTA Chairman appointment following the release from NEHTA that is found here:
Here is what we saw.

Former AMA chief to take e-health chair

Fran Foo

Technology Reporter
Sydney
FORMER Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton will replace David Gonski as chair of the National E-health Transaction Authority.
NEHTA said that Mr Gonski had served two consecutive terms, or six years, as chair and wasn’t eligible for a third term according to its constitution.
The organisation said Mr Gonski was responsible for revitalising the board and galvanising cooperation between the governments of Australia to deliver urgently needed infrastructure and standards for health information.
And here:

Hambleton steps into NEHTA chair

Former AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton has stepped into the role of Chair of the National E-Health Transition Authority. He replaces David Gonski, who had served two terms as chair, beginning in 2008.
Dr Hambleton said his new role is key in maintaining a connection between NEHTA and the front line of healthcare. “NEHTA has done some good things, and it’s a matter of taking what they have done and deliver what the government and the profession is looking for in terms of NEHTA’s role.”
As part of this connection, Dr Hambleton said he intends to maintain a part-time private practice in addition to his new role. He begins the role of chair immediately.
And here:

E-health reviewer appointed to chair NEHTA

Summary: Former Australian Medical Association president Dr Steve Hambleton will chair the National E-Health Transition Authority after co-authoring a report calling for the organisation to be dissolved.
By Josh Taylor | June 26, 2014 -- 01:46 GMT (11:46 AEST)
Former Australian Medical Association president Dr Steve Hambleton will become the new chairman of the government-owned National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA), succeeding David Gonski.
NEHTA is responsible for overseeing the rollout of Australia's billion-dollar electronic health record system across the country.
Gonski, most associated with compiling a review into Australia's education system for the former Labor government, has ended his two-term chairmanship for NEHTA, and is not eligable for a third term according to NEHTA's constitution.
And here:

Hambleton heads NEHTA

26th Jun 2014
THE new face of e-health is a familiar one with Dr Steve Hambleton appointed chair of the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) as of today.
Queensland GP and immediate past president of the AMA Dr Hambleton said it was a huge opportunity to get e-health "back on the rails".
"NEHTA's done some really good things – the Individual Healthcare Identifier, Australian Medicines Terminology... what we need now is a platform that's seamless, easy to use, and fits in with workflow in general practice.
Dr Hambleton said under his leadership NEHTA's focus would be on integrating e-health into primary care in a way that engaged with people "in the engine room of healthcare".
And here:

Gonski departs NEHTA board

Steve Hambleton appointed chair of e-health org
Rohan Pearce (Computerworld) on 26 June, 2014 13:36
The National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) has announced that former Australian Medical Association president Dr Steve Hambleton will be organisation's new chair.
Hambleton will replace David Gonksi, who served two terms as chair of NEHTA's board. Gonski was appointed in 2008. Under NEHTA's constitution, Gonksi was not eligible for a a third term.
Hambleton took part in a review, instigated by federal health minister Peter Dutton, of the troubled Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) program. NEHTA is in charge of the PCEHR rollout.
And here:

Hambleton heads up NEHTA

27 June, 2014 comments
The National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) has a new leader in Dr Steve Hambleton who until recently headed up the AMA.
Announced on Thursday, Dr Hambleton (pictured) replaces David Gonski AC, who had served two consecutive terms at NEHTA during which time he was responsible for revitalising the board and improving cooperation betweenfederal and state governments to lift infrastructure and standards in e-health record keeping.
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The most interesting quotes that I spotted from the articles were :

“He tempered his view of NEHTA as a whole, however, stating that the organisation had done good work in terms of the national medicines terminology, SNOMED CT and the individual healthcare identifier.”

“Dr Hambleton told 6minutes he thought NETA had done “an enormous amount of good work” and that his challenge will be to leverage off many of the initiatives already in place such as Personal Child Health Records (PCHR), secure message protocol and the new classification system for diseases.”

“We can’t be driven by the techos,” Dr Hambleton said in August.

“Dr Hambleton will spend several months reviewing NEHTA's current situation, with his appointment effective immediately. He replaces former chair David Gonski, who has concluded his constitutionally allowable term. Dr Hambleton will also continue to practise medicine.”

I found it interesting the some things that were picked out as ‘good bits’ I would suggest had made very little impact, if any, to date.

I am also a little concerned by Dr Hambleton’s view that NEHTA will go on forever and that e-Health is an unambiguously ‘good thing’. I am sure many would be concerned with a lot of this!

I am also a little concerned there is some misunderstanding of just what influence a part time chairman can have - or are there plans we don't know about?

David.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dr Steve Hambleton will chair the National E-Health Transition Authority after co-authoring a report calling for the organisation to be dissolved. Hello – is anyone out there or are they all locked up in the asylum!

How can he put his name on a Report with one lot of Recommendations and then spout forth the very opposite when he gets the nod to Chair the organisation?

Has he got a bad case of sunstroke? In the medical lexicon some would say Dr Hambleton has done the proverbial flip-flop-flap. Let’s face it – although he doesn’t want the techos to drive eHealth he has to admit the medicos (his colleagues, Clinical Leads and many others) have been a disaster.

Anonymous said...

Dr Steve Hambleton will chair the National E-Health Transition Authority after co-authoring a report calling for the organisation to be dissolved. Hello – is anyone out there or are they all locked up in the asylum!

How can he put his name on a Report with one lot of Recommendations and then spout forth the very opposite when he gets the nod to Chair the organisation?

Has he got a bad case of sunstroke? In the medical lexicon some would say Dr Hambleton has done the proverbial flip-flop-flap. Let’s face it – although he doesn’t want the techos to drive eHealth he has to admit the medicos (his colleagues, Clinical Leads and many others) have been a disaster.