For our latest international news in brief, we take a look at some of the stories that have caught our eye over the last few weeks from across the globe.
New regional data on key health indicators published in New Zealand
The Ministry of Health in New Zealand has published new regional health data from its national health survey, offering insight into key health indicators using a three-year rolling average to facilitate regional and local analysis. Datasets are grouped by health topic, including barriers to accessing primary care, cardiovascular health, emergency department use, life satisfaction, and primary care use.
Results are available for a number of different geographic areas including district health boards, health regions, and regional councils, with hopes the data can help to support planning, monitoring, and analysis. A video guide on the use and interpretation of results has been developed by the Ministry.
Australian Digital Health Agency launches online course for nursing and midwifery students
The Australian Digital Health Agency and La Trobe University have partnered to launch an online digital health course for nursing and midwifery students. It is comprised of five 45-minute modules aligned with the National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework: digital professionalism, leadership and advocacy, data and information quality, information-enabled care, and technology in practice.
Using case studies and practical activities to build skills and reinforce ethical standards, the agency aims for graduates to be able to apply principles from the capability framework, integrate My Health Record and other national digital health tools into their professional practice, adapt to tech-driven healthcare environments, and advocate for digitally enabled care.
US Department of Health and Human Services expands access to health records
The US Department of Health and Human Services has moved to expand access to health records, taking steps to strengthen the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement™ (TEFCA®), a national network assisting patients and providers in securely sharing electronic health information. A new contract has been awarded to ensure oversight of the network and its participating organisations, and additional reviews will be undertaken of qualified health information networks to promote compliance.
HHS also announces a milestone, with the number of health records exchanged via the network growing from 10 million to over one billion over the last year. Chris Klomp, HHS chief counselor and director of the centre for Medicare, said: “Seamless interoperability is essential for quality care; health records must flow easily between providers and patients. When critical health information is blocked or withheld, patients suffer the consequences. We are fully committed to using every appropriate regulatory and policy tool available to root out information blocking and protect patients’ right to access their own health data.”
Updates on primary use of health data via My Health Space in France
The French government has offered a range of updates on the primary use of health data via My Health Space, sharing that the app now has over 25 million users, and has been used to share more than 450 million documents with patients over the last twelve months. Secure messaging functionality is also continuing to grow, with over one million MSSanté messages sent every day. Hospitals are continuing to upgrade their systems, social care providers are progressing toward digital health records, and labs are being urged to fix issues uploading reports, the government reports. It is hoped that medical images will soon be able to be shared electronically.
Preparations for New South Wales single digital patient record roll out
Teams from Royal North Shore Hospital have shared progress on preparatory work ahead of the roll out of the New South Wales single digital patient record, designed to provide an overview of personal health information, appointments, test results, and treatment history in one secure place. Technical readiness activities are being completed, it states, and audits will be carried out on clinical technology and supporting network infrastructure. “This work will help identify opportunities to integrate clinical devices with the future SDPR system and support more connected, efficient information sharing,” it adds.
