South Australia Launches Statewide EMR System

The South Australian government has successfully completed the implementation of a unified electronic health record (EMR) system across its public hospitals.

Provided by Altera Digital Health, this statewide activation of the EMR and Patient Administration System (PAS) is the first of its kind among Australian states. The system is now operational at nearly 100 sites, offering near real-time access to:

• Patients’ medical histories
• Treatment plans
• Clinical data

This marks the conclusion of the EMR upgrade project initiated by the SA government in 2019, which has successfully created electronic medical records for over 1.5 million individuals.

Victoria Initiates Digital Health Training Program

The Victorian government has launched a pilot program aimed at enhancing digital health skills among frontline clinical and IT staff.

In collaboration with Grampians Health, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, and Cisco Networking Academy, this initiative is part of the state government’s Skills Solutions Partnerships program. The program focuses on:

• Short courses
• On-the-job training

The pilot, which involves over 360 staff members, includes modules on emerging health technologies and specialized courses in AI and data management. Plans are in place to expand this training to over 7,000 staff in Victoria’s northwest.

HNECC PHN Introduces AI Scribe Pilot Program

The Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) in New South Wales has launched a new initiative to incorporate AI-powered clinical note-taking in general practice.

According to HNECC PHN CEO Richard Nankervis, the goal is to “establish a scalable framework for the adoption of AI scribing in general practice.” Fourteen practices have been selected as flagship sites for the initial phase, which will test ambient scribe technology.

Royal Perth Hospital Adopts AI-Powered Rostering

The Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia has begun implementing an AI-driven rostering system.

Transitioning from manual spreadsheet-based rosters, the hospital has adopted a system from RosterLab. This change addresses challenges related to:

• Optimizing workforce allocation
• Maintaining equitable shift distribution
• Responding to fluctuating patient volumes

The new rule-based system can generate complete 13-week rosters in under 30 minutes, support various shift patterns, and automate compliance with industrial agreements. The initial implementation occurred in the hospital’s acute medical and intensive care units in March, with full completion expected by next month.