Council for Connected Care inaugural review report released

The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has welcomed the inaugural annual report of the Council for Connected Care.

The council is a multi-stakeholder advisory group that provides strategic guidance and direction on how to improve health outcomes for Australians through a more interoperable digital health system.

ADHA CEO Amanda Cattermole PSM said, “The Council for Connected Care has been a catalyst for change and a champion for healthcare interoperability. It has brought together an outstanding group of leaders who share a common vision of a more connected and integrated healthcare system.

“All Australians expect a healthcare system where information is shared safely, securely and seamlessly with the right people at the right time to deliver the best clinical outcomes.”

The ADHA said that the Council for Connected Care Annual Review shows progress has been made in advancing the interoperability agenda, with collaboration and knowledge building resources shared centrally on the agency’s website, including:

• National Healthcare Identifiers Roadmap 2023–2028 to increase the adoption and use of healthcare identifiers in health and care settings.
• Digital Health Standards Catalogue, a comprehensive resource that provides a single point of access for relevant standards in digital health.
• Conformance framework to ensure digital health products and systems are operated in a manner that aligns with safety, security and interoperability standards.
• Draft procurement guidelines to provide guidance to healthcare organisations seeking to purchase digital health solutions and harmonise interoperability requirements in ICT procurement.
• Drafting national Health Information Exchange architecture in consultation with jurisdictions and key stakeholders.
• Supporting the adoption and implementation of national interoperability standards, such as FHIR and SNOMED CT, through education, training and testing resources.
   

Council Chairperson Conjoint Professor Anne Duggan said having a more connected healthcare system was an important pillar of consumer safety and puts Australians firmly at the centre of their care.

“It has been a privilege to work with senior leaders across the healthcare system, united by the common purpose of realising fully optimised and interoperable digital health records, which remain foundational to safe and high-quality care.”

The council was established in June 2023 as part of the Connecting Australian Healthcare – National Healthcare Interoperability Plan 2023–2028, which was auspiced by all governments to significantly reduce fragmentation and increase information sharing across the healthcare system.

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