A NEW report has called for the expansion of the digital health system, claiming it could change the face of Australia's care services.
The report, compiled following a discussion of experts which was initiated by the Consumer's Health Forum (CHF) and the George Institute for Global Health, claims now is the time to expand digital health technology.
The panel, made up of 40 consumers, clinicians, academics, government representatives and industry leaders called for expansion of digital services in a range of areas including chronic, end of life and residential aged care.
The report claims major progress has been made in recent times with the development of digital services including My Health Record, e-prescriptions, patient registries, shared care portals, state-based digital health strategies and hospital patient information systems.
CHF chief executive Leanne Wells said now was the ideal time to build on the digital system for the benefit of both providers and clients.
"For Australia to embrace digital health and benefit from its huge potential, we need national leadership," she said.
She said if done well, digital expansion had the potential to be "transformative" for the health system, improving quality, safety, accessibility and efficiency.
"The COAG (Council of Australian Governments) National Digital Health Strategy provides a foundation, but what is needed is stronger, co-ordinated direction from the federal, state and territory governments," she said.
She said while digital expansion would benefit both carers and clients, it was "important to be mindful of differing levels of health literacy and that "some will need support to embrace a digital health future".
