2020 ideas lost in translation

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By Michael Woodhead, 6minutes editor

Reading the summary from the Health Summit this weekend I had to wonder why they needed 1000 of Australia’s best brains to come up with some of the ideas. A lot of the proposals for health were no brainers – putting more emphasis on preventative health, for example.

And yet some of the more exciting ideas have already been dismissed as unrealistic. The idea for a Facebook-style social network to connect doctors and patients, for example, dubbed “Healthbook”, was described as “half baked” by the AMA.

The idea, which got the enthusiastic support of PM Kevin Rudd, envisages patients being able to post personal health details to be viewed by nominated people such as doctors, carers and family members. The concept has already been developed into beta sites by Google and Microsoft, and far from being “half baked” is already being implemented by the AMA’s Canadian counterparts, the CMA.

According to this article, the CMA has launched an online portal called mydoctor.ca that allows patients to store their health records, track their disease progress and communicate securely with the doctors. At present the site is being used by about 200 doctors to track three key areas: asthma, high blood pressure and obesity.

Patients using the system have a personal profile for which they enter data such as peak flow readings, BP and weight. This information is available to their personal doctor who can monitor their progress and give feedback and advice.

The system is currently being used by about 200 physicians and there are plans to add more conditions, such as diabetes. Kudos to the CMA for taking the lead in this area.

Perhaps we should hold fire and to see what comes of the 2020 Summit ideas. According to one delegate, former AMA president Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, much of the discussion that took place was not reflected in the instant summaries that we covered yesterday.

He told 6minutes that many of the key messages agreed by the health panel were “lost in translation”. And he wonders whether the ideas need so many new commissions, taskforces and committees that Labor is creating to implement them. Isn’t this just creating more bureaucracy and bypassing their expertise that is already out there. Perhaps the next 2020 health summit should be for those at the coalface of healthcare delivery.

Comments

Cris are you saying, with respect to the recurring theme of "seamless integration", the result and aftermath of the 2020 Summit has made the prospect of seamless integration "seem less" likely? Seems to me any seams have dis-integrated already. The same people who for decades have had an input with the result being old ideas and re-badging them as new doesn't fool anyone. 2020 vision in a rear-vision mirror.

Posted by Mary Lou Carter on Saturday, 3 May 2008

I agree David ... a mammoth effort over a very short period of time.

The voluntary contribution of the Summiteers is to be applauded.

As I understand nothing is written in stone, so my intent was only to add another perspective to ensuing discussions, particularly as a common theme across most streams was seamless integration.
Posted by Cris Kerr on Wednesday, 23 April 2008

I agree the biggest and best idea is that they have a Health 2020 Summit! I sometimes wonder whether the people that are being heard are the same people that are already being heard perhaps this is why nothing ground breaking would come out. The outcome was somewhat predictable. Having said that the efforts of our fellow Summiteers is appreciated, some representation is better than nothing.

David Dahm

Posted by David Dahm on Tuesday, 22 April 2008

From what I've read, a Facebook/Healthbook proposal was put forward as a separate IT Health System proposal --- a system in isolation from all other health systems.

At first glance it appears to me to devalue the contribution patients could make to the long-term health aspirations of this nation.

A patient-centred health system would incorporate all health data, including patient perspectives, into a new IT Health Information System, thereby acknowledging the value of patient experiences and testimonies, and promoting patients to the pro-active role of 'partner' in they return to improved health.

Posted by Cris Kerr on Tuesday, 22 April 2008

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