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Defence touts $55m e-health system

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel has officially kick started work on a new multimillion-dollar, web-based e-health records management platform.
Written by Luke Hopewell, Contributor

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel has officially kick started work on a new multimillion-dollar, web-based e-health records management platform.

Announced by Minister for Veterans' Affairs Warren Snowdon in Canberra this morning, the Joint e-Health Data and Information system (JeHDI) will hold an ADF member's e-health record, containing medical information from recruitment right through to discharge and is, according to the minister, set to improve the quality of healthcare provided to ADF personnel.

"JeHDI is a web-based system which can be accessed wherever internet is available, while still maintaining confidentiality and data integrity, JeHDI will simplify record management and provide immediate access to patients' medical records and other healthcare information," Snowdon said.

JeHDI represents a $55.7 million investment by Defence, with a completion date set down for early 2014.

"This is a very exciting time for the ADF as they are taking a key national leadership role in the introduction of electronic health records throughout Australia and delivering a single electronic health system across the ADF," Snowdon added.

Set to be developed by Defence, Oakton and CSC Australia, the system will have the capability to transfer record information between it and other public and private health sector systems.

Gavin Larkings, president and CEO of CSC Australia, said that he was pleased to be continuing the relationship between CSC and Defence.

"CSC Australia is delighted to be Defence's integration partner for the implementation of the JeHDI system. We have supported Defence for over 30 years, and as an experienced Australian Defence Prime Systems Integrator, we have a proven history of successfully integrating and deploying IT systems into the complex Defence Information Environment," Larkings said.

The ADF consulted with the Department of Health and Ageing, Veterans' Affairs and the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) to ensure that the new JeHDI system will complement the Federal Government's National E-Health Strategy.

Defence expects the JeHDI roll-out to follow a staged process, which includes a pilot program expected in early to mid-2012.

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