Australian Health Information Council recommendations

The Australian Health Information Council (AHIC) eHealth Future Directions Briefing Paper, released in March 2008, was produced following the AHIC eHealth Future Directions Summit in June 2007 and subsequent meetings of the Council.

The Briefing Paper made following key recommendations:

That a comprehensive national eHealth strategy be developed in consultation with the Jurisdictions, industry, the community and health services.
There is recognition that Jurisdictions have many of the necessary eHealth components already and that what is needed is an effective system of knowledge exchange that can accelerate implementation rather than develop new products when existing ones can be used.
A time limited function/body be responsible for building upon existing work and integrating eHealth nationally;
A core set of functioning components of an Australian shared electronic health record (SEHR) should be operating across Australia by 2012; and

An implementation plan and resources schedule be developed to deliver the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) national eHealth Strategy.