PCD Strategy Evaluation 2007.pdf - NT Health Digital Library ...

PCIS was developed by NTDH&CS as the corporate patient information and recall system forremote health services in the Northern Territory. However the PCIS will not be implemented intoall sites due to technical and infrastructure issues. It is unclear what the solution will be for thoseservices where it will not be possible to implement PCIS.In Central Australia there is a complete dearth of electronic information systems. The communityphysician and other service providers reported a high level of frustration with this situation and alack of any alternatives to support clinical practice. Planning is underway to implement PCIS intosome PHCAP zone communities, but not all communities within these zones. It is important thatall services within a zone use consistent patient information and recall systems to facilitate datasharing and the training of the workforce.At the present time there is no information system that supports urban service providers, or therenal units, to manage patient recalls and care plans. The type of information system needed tosupport chronic disease management and patient recall in urban community health services willbe dependent on the model of care implemented for collaborative practice. The renal unit willneed a similar system to remote health services as many of their clients on care plans will comefrom remote areas and hence a consistent system will facilitate information sharing. However thesystem will also need to be working and able to communicate with general practice. Thereforediscussions will be required between these groups to identify what patient informationmanagement systems are needed and processes developed to put these into place.Initiatives such as the point-2-point project, sponsored by the Divisions of General Practice aredesigned to improve communication and information sharing between service providers. Tofacilitate a collaborative approach to patient care with general practitioners the NTDH&CSservices need to be able to use these systems to improve communication with generalpractitioners in the management of patient care.Stakeholder interviews revealed poor compliance with the use of recall systems. Reasons givenfor this relate to both workforce capacity and training. It will be sometime before electronicsystems are implemented more widely. Therefore developing strategies to improve the use ofmanual recall systems is essential to ensure patients are receiving high quality care.Chapter 6: Discussion – Evaluation of the NT Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy 2007 97