Doctor support will be crucial to the success of Australia’s first fully digital hospital – according to UnitingCare Health’s Executive Director Richard Royle, who was speaking at the inaugural eHealth Doctors’ Conference in Hervey Bay.
More than 50 health specialists, including doctors from the United States, attended the conference, hosted by St Stephen’s Hospital, Hervey Bay, on Saturday and Sunday, 1-2 February, at Peppers Resort.
Local, Queensland, and international doctors, together with representatives from UnitingCare Health’s executive team, St Stephen’s Hospital and the eHealth Unite project team, delivered speeches, presentations and discussed the key opportunities of eHealth in improving patient care.
Mr Royle said: “The conference was a great success and has provided strong direction for the roll out of eHealth technology at UnitingCare Health’s new St Stephen’s Hospital later this year.
“The construction of Australia’s first fully digital hospital is a huge undertaking. Doctor support is critical in ensuring the success of the project and in helping us to achieve our primary outcome – improving healthcare and making it safer for our patients.”
UnitingCare Health’s Regional Director of Medical Services and Australia’s first Chief Medical Information Officer, Dr Monica Trujillo, acknowledged the dedication shown by doctors involved in the new technology.
“I’d like to personally thank our doctors for the knowledge, skill, expertise, time and energy they have contributed throughout the solution design effort during the past year,” she said.
Chief Executive Officer for UnitingCare Queensland, Anne Cross, was impressed with the level of attendance at the conference and doctor engagement.
“I am delighted at the level of commitment shown to date by our doctors. The Doctors’ Conference has provided a strong indication that our doctors are uniting in ensuring the new hospital delivers real benefits to the local community,” she said.
St Stephen’s new, state-of-the-art, digital hospital will open in the latter half of 2014.