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Mark Merolli, University of Melbourne
Digital Health News
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Digital and healthcare in Australia – can we leapfrog change if we get the incentives right?
As the Government reviews its national digital health strategy and priorities, we look at the opportunities and challenges that Australia has in moving ahead with healthcare system reform and change.Many health providers are looking to better platform...
New report: Valuing the impact of genomics on healthcare in Australia
A new report from the Industry Genomics Network Alliance (InGeNA) features case studies showing just some of the many ways genomics will be useful in diagnosis and treatment across Australia’s future healthcare system. “Valuing the impact of genomics on...
AIDH success in preventive health funding
The Government has announced the Australian Institute of Digital Health will share in $23.7 million funding over three years as part of the National Preventative Health Strategy, furthering support for the health and wellbeing of all Australians. The...
Launched today: The big picture on genomic data in Australia
Introducing Australia’s Women in Digital Health Leadership program
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health today launches Australia's Women in Digital Health Leadership program. The 6 month program is designed to enable all leaders realise and develop their leadership potential to advance the capability of leaders,...
Vale Dr Virginia K Saba
Dr Virginia Saba passed away on 20 November. Virginia was an early pioneer in the field of informatics and contributed significantly to the development of the discipline of nursing informatics. Working within the US public health service, her early work focused on...
Digital Health Live | Masterclass: Analytics driven healthcare
A digital health live virtual event This masterclass dives into planning, development and delivery of health analytics projects in the Australian health landscape. Presenters will focus on key lessons learnt and provide important take home messages for...
NSW branch event | Right treatment, right patient, right time: Transforming data into decisions
Hosted by the NSW state branch Patricia Correll will present an overview of the Lumos program in NSW, which securely links de-identified data from general practices (GPs) to other health data such as hospital, emergency department, mortality and more. It...
WA branch event | Western Australia’s digital journey: A year in review
Hosted by the WA state branch 2020 heralded a big change for WA’s digital health journey with the Electronic Medical Record program officially kicking off with formal support from the government to put a business case together. Last year, the Department of...
Webinar | COVID-19 and health informatics: Lessons from today and thoughts for the future
Hosted by the VIC state branch COVID-19 has overshadowed everything in healthcare for the last two years. What did this mean for the industry and where to now? Hear perspectives from researchers, the medical software industry and government with...
Webinar | Mental health matters: Looking after ourselves and those who look after us
Hosted by the ACT state branch Anyone who has completed a first aid course knows the ‘DRABC’ of first aid - when providing first aid, the first priority is to check for danger. That is, check for danger to yourself and others so that, as a first aider, you...
Strategic Think Tank: Delivering now, building for the future
The Institute’s Fellows and Associate Fellows are the Who’s Who of digital health and health informatics in Australasia renowned for their national and global experience and perspectives on the future of healthcare. Help us shape the AIDH 2022 agenda for...
Webinar | Digital and healthcare in Australia: Can we leapfrog change if we get the incentives right
As the Government reviews its national digital health strategy and priorities, we look at the opportunities and challenges in Australian healthcare system reform and change. Over the last 18 months, we have witnessed the benefits of digital health starting...
The impact of mHealth on nurses and midwives
Most nurses and midwives are familiar with health apps, but possibly not the broader scope and meaning of mobile health or mHealth. Health applications offer health- and wellness-related services for smartphones, tablets, personal computers, and other...
Digital health and gender diversity survey
Do you work in Australia’s digital health sector? We want to hear about your experiences! Complete the ‘Understanding gender diversity in digital health survey’ by Friday 3 December. The Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) has joined with...
Impact of biotechnology on nurses and midwives
Biotechnology refers to technology based on biology – that is, it exploits biological systems, living organisms or part of this to cultivate or create different products. Traditional processes to bake bread, brew beer, or make cheese are rudimentary...
Congratulations to new community leaders
Thank you to everyone who nominated in the AIDH community elections where branches and community of practice leaders were elected. Congratulations to the successful nominees! The following nominees were voted into branch leadership: Victoria branch:...
Institute backs standards based approach to digital vaccine passport
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health says a standards-based approach is required to give Australians the confidence they are seeking in a smart health card that proves their COVID vaccination status. AIDH CEO Dr Louise Schaper said Australians...
Introducing the 2021 Healthcare Cybersecurity Survey
The general community places its trust in the health system to safeguard health information. Is the healthcare sector doing enough to protect health information and the security of their systems? We seek to understand the current state of awareness and...
Nursing and Midwifery Participation in Virtual Care
Whilst it is clear that virtual models of care will be a predominant feature in future health infrastructure, there are varying interpretations of what constitutes virtual care (VC). There is no supported standard definition, and VC is often used...
New Board members announced
Following the AIDH 2021 AGM and on behalf of the AIDH Board we are pleased to announce the elections of Damian Green, Belinda Lange, Gillian Mason and Bettina McMahon following a competitive Board election process. Deputy Director General,...
AIDH Branch committees call for nominations 2021
Could you be a branch leader? The Institute is calling for nominations from eligible members who would like to hold a leadership position within their local Branch Committee. Being part of a Branch Committee is a great way to contribute to a community...
AIDH CoP committees call for nominations 2021
The Institute is calling for nominations from eligible members who would like to hold a leadership position within one of our six CoP Committees. Being part of a CoP Committee is a great way to contribute to a community focused on building the digital...
Digital Health Institute Summit postponed
Our national conference is one of the most uplifting and energised events on the national healthcare calendar. It’s the place to meet friends, colleagues and everyone passionate about the potential for healthcare in the digital age. Traveling to the...
Impact of genomics on nursing and midwifery
Personalised medicine and precision health are growing in awareness among health consumers, patients and carers. Precision health is underpinned by genomics, an exciting field full of potential in coming years. However, for most nurses and midwives,...
Embers of Innovation and digital health
The COVID-19 context The profile of nurses and midwives as health innovators has risen exponentially over the last decade, largely due to the rapid advancement of new health technologies, the ongoing progression of evidence-based medicine and the...
Webinar on driving to connected care: What is next in health and aged care?
Those of us working in healthcare for many years have known the opportunities, benefits, and challenges of connecting care through digital health - whether using interconnected systems across providers, better use of telehealth and virtual care, leveraging...
Nominate for the AIDH Board by 22 July
You can be a leader in the digital health community and help drive the movement for better, connected healthcare. AIDH Fellows and Members are invited to consider nominating for a Board position this year, sharing their expertise and knowledge and taking a...
Community consultation: Primary healthcare the frontline
Stronger primary healthcare was singled out as important to mental health and preventive health in Australia’s long term National Health Plan. The national plan is focused on making the health system better at preventing disease and promoting health, and...
Institute submission to privacy consultation
Read our member-led Submission into the review of the National Health Privacy Rules by the OAIC.
What is digital health and why does it matter?
White paper: Be part of the evolving conversation in healthcare: What is digital health?
2021 Brilliant Women in Digital Health award launched
Nominations are open for Telstra Health’s inaugural 2021 Brilliant Women in Digital Health award. The awards recognise and celebrate 25 women in digital health for their achievements – whether that is mentoring, medical research, contributing to technology...
Health workforce census underway
The 2021 Global HIDDIN Workforce Census, held every three years, is live until 30 June, 2021. It aims to quantify and qualify the global HIDDIN (Health Informatics, Digital, Data, Information, kNowledge) workforce, delineate and count the workforce,...
We’re in the Push for Better
The Push For Better Foundation raises awareness and engages people in mental health through connection, education and health and wellbeing. In June, some of us at the Institute are getting active and helping #pushforbetter mental health in Australia. Our...
CHN calls for steering group interest
Capital Health Network (CHN) is forming a Digital Health Steering Group to bring together key stakeholders and clinical leads. The steering group will drive and guide planning, collaboration and identification of improvement and implementation...
Institute submission to privacy consultation
Institute submission to privacy consultation: AIDH has made a submission into the review of the National Health Privacy Rules 2018 by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner which closed last week. Submissions are to be made public on the...
Innovation Challenge
George Institute for Global Health India Health Accelerator has launched "[email protected]" innovation challenge. This challenge is hosting a hackathon dedicated to identifying solutions that will support effective home-based care for COVID-19, with a...
Genomics vision for Australia
Genomics vision for Australia: The Industry Genomics Network Alliance (InGeNA) has commenced a major project with Deloitte Access Economics to develop an evidence base to demonstrate the value of genomics to the Australian economy, society and patient...
Digital health educational opportunities for nurses and midwives
The AIDH-N.M Community of practice this month focuses on Digital Health Educational Opportunities for Nurses and Midwives. We hope you will join us in a meaningful discussion and sharing of resources.Healthcare environments have been equipped with...
Expression of Interest: Healthcare data privacy
The Institute wants to hear from Fellows and Members with expertise in healthcare data privacy to form a small group and make a submission into the review of the National Health (Privacy) Rules 2018. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner...
Expressions of Interest: Professional Development Modules in Digital Health
As part of its strategic focus on health workforce reform, the Institute is seeking expressions of interest from qualified individuals or organisations to develop a series of online education/training modules for an introductory professional development...
Digital health opportunities in aged care
Nurses working in the aged care sector were anxious for the release of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety report late last year, given the knowledge that this sector is well behind in the use and application of technology and has no...
AIDH Strategic plan
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health strategic plan for 2021-2025 was launched today with a focus on advocacy and member engagement to drive workforce reform.AIDH CEO Dr Louise Schaper said the Institute was already working with many health...
Nursing.Midwifery Community of practice focuses on Digital Health Capability
The AIDH-Nursing.Midwifery Community of practice this month focuses on Digital Health Capability. Amongst the confrontational events of bush fires, floods and pandemics, in October 2020 the National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework...
NSW region gets group together
A group of AIDH members living in and around Newcastle (NSW) has begun to meet regularly. Their aims are to collaboratively address issues/problems experienced by regional members, share information and insights, jointly participate in and learn from...
Lumos shines a light on patient journeys in NSW
The Lumos program links de-identified records to map patient journeys from primary care to other settings and health information sources in NSW, including hospitals, cancer registry and cause of death information. Data from this program uncovers new...
Short course in health informatics at Flinders
The 2021 Health Informatics Short Course at Flinders University has been rescheduled and is being conducted from 12-16 July in Adelaide (at the Victoria Square Campus). In this one-week intensive course, you will develop skills in using health informatics...
Executives into fellowship
Health managers and leaders are invited to apply for Fellowship or Associate Fellowship of the Institute through the new executive pathway. Senior executives with depth of knowledge in digital health from their experience across the health system could be...
Advocating in aged care
Message from the CEO: The final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety released last week highlighted a need for digital advancement as part of the overall transformation of the aged care system. Aged care has long been on our...
The impact of a pandemic on nursing and midwifery
Have your say on this topic by logging into the CoP forum on the members’ SocialLink for nursing and midwifery. The Impact of a Pandemic on Nursing and Midwifery By Dr Jen Bichel-Findlay It is hard to envisage the difference in circumstances...
Institute advocates for digital vaccine passport
With all eyes on the government’s rollout of the first COVID-19 vaccines this week, it was timely for the Institute to advocate for movement on the international digital vaccine passport.
Institute welcomes digital health capability framework
The National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework is positively welcomed by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health’s Nursing and Midwifery Community of Practice. The framework provides: a transparent vison for nurses and...
Call for expression of interest to contribute to Digital Health: A Workforce Approach 1st edition
Elsevier has commissioned a new Health Informatics text for Australasia, titled Digital Health, A Workforce Approach 1st edition (working title), to be edited by AIDH fellows - Helen Almond and Carey Mather. This educational text will focus on enabling...
Expecting a baby in 2021?
Where will you find trusted, safe & qualified advice online? Expectant mothers, fathers and families are invited to hear from the experts in the emerging world of digitally enabled maternal care. Join this Australasian Institute of Digital Health...
Damian Green joins the Board
Deputy Director General of eHealth Queensland Damian Green has joined the Board of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health, bringing to the role a wealth of experience as a digital health leader in hospitals and health services.Damian was appointed to...
Message from the CEO
The Institute salutes the extraordinary work of all healthcare professionals across Australasia this year. There is no doubt the pandemic tested – and continues to test - every facet of the health system, and there has been enormous participation by...
Bettina McMahon is the new Chair of AIDH
The Institute has welcomed leading digital health executive and Fellow of the Institute Bettina McMahon into the role of Board Chair. Bettina is well known to most of the digital health community as the face of the Australian Digital Health Agency while...
Perspectives and considerations in digital health standards, and standards selection
An update for Institute members and the digital health community The Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) has been working with the Australian Digital Health Agency (the agency) to develop a process for digital health standards selection for...
Industry alliance will work on integrating genomics
The genomics industry has launched InGeNA, a new alliance to strengthen collaboration, coordinate on key issues and realise opportunities for all Australians to benefit from precision healthcare. The Industry Genomics Network Alliance has 13 founding member companies...
CgovSolutions No-Code Toolkit
Institute Summit sponsor content CgovSolutions provides Healthcare Executives and Business Managers the keys to a cost-effective, configurable way to make Digital Transformation a reality, with our No-Code Development Toolkit. The Cgov Toolkit enables business users...
Using mobile health to empower patients in orthopedic rehab
Institute Summit sponsor content Heading along or tuning in to the Digital Health Institute Summit in Sydney? Don’t miss hearing from experts at CSIRO’s world-leading Australian e-Health Research Centre (AEHRC). Total knee replacement (TKR) procedures in Australia...
Remote dental check-ups for kids, and medical app deployment: CSIRO’s e-Health experts in Perth
Institute Summit sponsor content Attending the Digital Health Institute Summit in Perth on 13 Nov? Here’s what you can expect to hear from some of the experts at CSIRO’s world-leading Australian e-Health Research Centre (AEHRC). Deploying medical apps to...
The artificial intelligence powering Australia’s healthcare
Institute Summit sponsor content Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques are being harnessed to power digital health: from understanding whole genome sequences to enabling clinical decision support, determining patient risk prediction,...
Queensland CHIAs graduate
Congratulations to the second group of more than 80 CHIA graduates from Metro North – Queensland Digital Academy (QDA) who were presented with their certificates on 6 October. QDA is an organisational participant in CHIA, offering the opportunity to be certified and...
Women in digital health leadership
Women in digital health are discussing opportunities for the Australasian Institute of Digital Health to pilot a leadership program similar to Women in AMIA (WIA). At a webinar last week, sponsored by Alcidion, the leaders of WIA gave an overview of how the group...
New Chair named to lead the Institute
A new Chair has been named to lead the Australasian Institute of Digital Health after founding Chair Michael Walsh steps down from the role in November. Former Australian Digital Health Agency interim chief executive Bettina McMahon will take over as...
Legislative review My Health Records Act
The review of the My Health Records legislation closes on 21 October 2020. As of August 2020, more than 90% of eligible Australians (22.82 million) have an individual MHR and 19.68 million have data entered in the record.
A grassroots movement to mobilise and support women in digital health | The women in AMIA experience
Women working in the fields of digital health and health informatics are invited to a targeted webinar next Wednesday 21 October inspired by the Institute’s US counterpart AMIA. You will go behind the scenes of AMIA’s successful leadership development and mentoring...
A new pathway to Fellowship for digital health executives
A new pathway to Fellowship for digital health executives has been announced by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health. The move is part of the Institute’s foundation year strategy to grow recognition for individuals with depth of knowledge in digital health and...
We are listening – take our survey
We are listening - survey opens The Institute has invited Fellows, Members and interested stakeholders to take part in our first survey. Let us know your feedback on a range of topics and help us to ensure we are hitting the mark and providing you with relevant,...
IMIA Board vacancies
IMIA Board vacancies The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA), the world body for health and biomedical informatics, has four Board vacancies and has asked for nominations. As the Institute is a member of IMIA, we would like to hear from our members...
Board nominations open
As of 8 October 2020, nominations have closed. Voting will open up 22 October. Board nominations open The Institute is calling for nominations to the Board. The constitution was written with terms for each nominated Board member to ensure corporate...
Sound advice for diagnosing respiratory disease
Sponsored member content Diagnosing respiratory disease during telehealth consults can be challenging as clinicians can’t use their standard tools, typically a stethoscope, chest x-ray or spirometer, for evaluating acute respiratory symptoms. Designed for telehealth,...
Health informatics short course at Flinders
Health informatics short course at Flinders Mark Brommeyer will again be conducting the Health Informatics Short Course at Flinders University from 21-25 September 2020 in Adelaide (at the Victoria Square Campus). In this intensive course, you will develop...
IAHSI Fellows announced
Congratulations to the 2020 class of Fellows announced by the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI). The Academy recognises expertise in biomedical and health informatics internationally. Academy membership is one of the highest...
Pandemic awareness
Pandemic awareness Institute organisational member S23M Healthcare is organising a Trans-Tasman knowledge exchange on pandemic awareness and effective collaboration, starting with a series of online panel discussions in September. If you are involved in...
The changing face of clinical careers
The Changing Face of Clinical Careers A whitepaper The Changing Face of Clinical Careers was released last week by Wavelength International, Ccentric and Creative Careers in Medicine who collaborated to carry out Australia’s first research on what future...
Economic recovery post COVID-19 – the digital and data future
NORTH Link is holding a free online half-day event on Thursday 27 August titled “Economic recovery post COVID-19, the digital and data future”. Look out for Institute board members Phil Robinson and Peter Williams who bring their digital health expertise and insights...
New community of practice will target virtual care
Fellows and Members of the Institute get together to share their knowledge and expertise through six digital health communities of practice on topical fields of interest. Now, the Institute is launching a seventh community to provide a meeting place for...
Attend a G20 digital health event!
Attend a G20 digital health event! Saudi Arabia will host the G20 global digital health summit virtually next week from Tuesday 11 - Wednesday 12 August. Registration is free for the summit which focuses around pandemics with topics like health policy,...
Relaunched national survey on the Usability of Electronic Health/Medical Records
Relaunched national survey on the Usability of Electronic Health/Medical Records The digital health community is invited to take part in a national survey on the Usability of Electronic Health/Medical Records. The survey, supported by the Institute’s UX...
Patient-centred, virtual and innovative: Healthcare post COVID-19
Patient-centred, virtual and innovative: Healthcare post COVID-19 Virtual healthcare in the future needs patient-centred models, equitable access, regulatory oversight and a digitally capable workforce if we are to build on advances made in telehealth...
Loss of a pioneer in medical informatics: Dr Octo Barnett
Loss of a pioneer in medical informatics: Dr Octo Barnett AIDH was saddened to hear of the death of Dr Octo Barnett who died on June 30 at the age of 89. Dr Barnett was the founder and former Senior Scientific Director of the Laboratory of Computer Science...
Reinventing healthcare in a post-COVID world
Reinventing healthcare in a post-COVID world There is no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the most significant disruption to healthcare, at a global level, we have ever seen. Health systems across the world have been forced to rapidly respond to what...
National effort on post-COVID response
National effort on post-COVID response As the health system settles into a new rhythm and moves beyond the pandemic curve, many of us are asking how can we be better prepared for the future? How can we learn from the past six months and be ready for the...
Make the most of your professional development in 2020 with a UTAS scholarship
The University of Tasmania is offering a range of courses available from July 2020 to utilise the UTAS scholarship available to AIDH members and study online. AIDH Fellows and Members have access to the following postgraduate scholarship: 50% HECs fee waiver
EOI for Digital Health and Health Informatics Subject Matter Experts
AIDH student member Tafheem Wani, from the University of Melbourne, is one of the researchers undertaking an online survey among heads of IT/IT security in hospitals to explore Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) security practices in Australian hospitals.
PhD scholarship in Digital Health
PhD scholarship in Digital Health PhD scholarship in Digital Health: Want to explore how digital technologies can help patients and consumers? Come and study Digital Health through Macquarie University’s PhD Scholarship - Digital health for patients and...
Using the COVID-19 tracer app
Using the COVID-19 tracer app The Institute, in association with the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), have lent their support to the Australian Government’s contact tracing app to aid national efforts to manage and...
Survey request on security practices
AIDH student member Tafheem Wani, from the University of Melbourne, is one of the researchers undertaking an online survey among heads of IT/IT security in hospitals to explore Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) security practices in Australian hospitals.
The launch of the COVID-19 tracer App
The launch of the COVID-19 tracer App COVID-19 tracer app launched: Institute develops principles on privacy and data use The launch of the COVID-19 tracer App on Sunday evening has generated widespread discussion and some public concern...
FROM THE FRONTLINES celebrates telehealth and virtual care innovation during COVID-19
From the Frontlines The Institute held its first virtual conference From the Frontlines last Friday (24 April) putting the spotlight on virtual care and telehealth innovation and adaptation emerging from frontline workers, healthcare...
AIDH Fellowship check-in
Welcome to new Fellows Fellowship recognises your outstanding professional accomplishment in digital health and health informatics. You hold the highest membership level of the Institute, acknowledging your education, experience and the impact...
#digitalhealth Institute launches 24-02-20
News #digitalhealth Institute launches 24-02-20 The Australasian Institute of Digital Health is open for business! We were pleased to welcome friends old and new, members and Fellows to the Institute headquarters in South Melbourne on launch day 24...
Planned telehealth expansion welcome, but must look beyond doctors alone
News Planned telehealth expansion welcome, but must look beyond doctors alone 23 March 2020 Four leading health organisations have urged the Government to expand telehealth to nurses to reduce COVID-19 infection risks and support care of chronically ill people at...
Institute defers conference program in response to COVID-19
News The Australasian Institute of Digital Health is deferring its conference programme until later in the year as a response to COVID-19 Australia’s largest digital health and health informatics scientific conference HIC 2020 will be the pinnacle of a combined...
Meet the Chair of the Institute Michael Walsh
Michael Walsh became independent Chair of the Australasian Institute of Digital Health on its formation in February 2020. A familiar face to many in the digital health movement, Michael was Director-General of Queensland Health from July 2015 to September...
Could you be a Fellow of the Institute?
Experienced health informatics or digital health professionals may wish to apply for Fellowship status. When you become a Fellow of the Institute, you join Australasia’s highest credentialled health informaticians and use the post-nominals FAIDH....
Members love Digital Health TV
♥ Our video channel is a big hit! Institute members can access outstanding quality, informative videos online from our health informatics, digital health, telehealth and health data analytics conferences and other events. We are adding to Digital Health TV...
Data Divide
Blog Data Divide By Dr Mark Santamaria Part of the Clinical Informatics Community of Practice Steering Committee For many years we have been talking about the ‘digital divide’ in healthcare, but the implementation of any digital solution does not itself improve...
