Implementation Approach

The governments of Australia have tasked the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) to identify and foster the design and development of technology to deliver Australia’s future e-health system. The Healthcare Identifiers (HI) Service is a key part of that system. The scope of the HI Service includes three identifiers namely: the Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI); The Healthcare Provider Identifier—Individual (HPI-I); and the Healthcare Provider Identifier—Organisation (HPI-O). The Healthcare Identifiers Implementation Approach outlines the approach to implementation of the identifiers and incorporates the feedback received during the public consultation phase.

Read the full version of the Healthcare Identifiers Implementation Approach (PDF).

Benefits to the entire sector will be realised when we have reached the "tipping point" in take up of the identifiers across both the public and private healthcare organisations. This will be when the identifiers are widely being used to support e-health in particular secure communication of health information between providers and organisations. However, there are some challenges to the large scale adoption of healthcare identifiers. Healthcare providers may need to implement some changes to their business practices in order to utilise the HI Service. The degree of change required will depend on the nature of the healthcare business and the current status of its IT systems. In addition, medical software vendors will need to include specifications within their products that would create seamless communication links between healthcare providers and the HI Service, In view of these challenges three complementary approaches to implementation are presented in the Healthcare Identifiers Implementation Approach:

  • Change Management Program: Supporting take up of the identifiers across the health sector through a change management program involving professional peak bodies and support organisations. The change management program components will be identified through consultation on the development of sector specific plans.
  • Assistance to Vendors:  Assisting vendors through engagement and consultation, and the provision of well designed specifications that meet the technical requirements of the HI Service.  This approach recognises that the interface provided by medical software applications between the healthcare organisation or provider and the HI Service is key to implementation of the HI Service.
  • Lead or Early Adopter Projects: Identifying and establishing lead or “early adopter” sites that can demonstrate the use of the identifiers in supporting robust e-health implementations.  NEHTA will collaborate with key organisations that are prepared to invest early and assist in the development of, implementation guidelines, change management and ‘lessons learned’ tool kits that can support the Change Management Program.

In addition, implementation plans will be developed in consultation with individual parts of the sector, e.g. primary care, jurisdictions and aged care.