Friday 17 August 2007
Clever Networks—Clever Health
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, today announced the eleventh preferred applicant under the first round of the Clever Networks Innovative Services Delivery element.
The Howard Government will provide $3.4 million in funding to the Grampians Rural Health Alliance Network (GRHANet) for Clever Health, a project that will revolutionise the delivery of emergency and maternity healthcare in the region.
“Health care services will be significantly improved by linking the Emergency/Urgent Care and Maternity patients in the region with high-quality expertise via wireless and video conference technology and associated specialist equipment,” Senator Coonan said.
“These video conference units will enable rapid treatment and peer support in the diagnosis of patients, which will reduce the need to move patients between agencies.”
To deliver Clever Health GRHANet, has partnered with Grampians Health Information and Communications Technology Alliance, University of Ballarat, the Victorian Department of Human Services and the 12 primary health agencies that form part of the Grampians Health Alliance Network. Dimension Data, Telstra and Integrated Vision are also contributing to the project.
“Clever Health will enable a patient living in Horsham to receive specialist obstetrics advice from the Ballarat Hospital,” Senator Coonan said.
“Access to mental health services in regional and rural areas will also be vastly improved.”
Nurse recruitment and retention in the region is difficult due to isolation felt by professionals being the only specialist in the region and the difficulty of maintaining professional credentials.
“Thanks to wireless technology, Clever Health will also increase skills and professional development opportunities for health professionals in the region by developing collaborative and innovative ways of providing flexible learning, peer support and advice mechanisms,” Senator Coonan said.
“With the link to the University of Ballarat, employers and employees in the Grampians region will benefit from increased access to appropriate and relevant training and learning opportunities.”
The GRHANet network encompasses all the health services and many of the community health agencies in the Grampians region of Victoria. The Grampians region comprises some 40 rural and remote towns and has a population of around 225 000 and covers an area of 69 520 square kilometres.
Clever Networks is a $113 million Australian Government program that delivers smart solutions to improve delivery of services in regional, rural and remote Australia through innovative broadband projects.
Successful projects to receive Clever Networks first round funding will include virtual healthcare, remotely accessible interactive education services, and delivery of integrated state-wide emergency services.
More information about specific projects will become available as each successful project is announced.
More information about Clever Networks is available at www.dcita.gov.au/clevernetworks
Media Contact: Katherine Meier 0417 441 141