Establishing a Digital Health Foundation: Leveraging Data to Enhance Diagnostic Excellence, Safety, and Value

Abstract

Project Aims: This project aims to build a scalable digital infrastructure (involving linked data sets and sophisticated decision support systems accessible across clinical domains) as a foundation for outcomes-based research, optimised clinical care processes and translation into policy and practice.   Methodology: Multiple data sources are pooled using advanced data linkage methods, integrating hospital, laboratory, and emergency department data from two Sydney Local Health Districts. This approach enables comprehensive analysis and supports more effective, data-driven healthcare decision-making.   Translational impact: Emergency and intensive care's use of an electronic Sensible Test Ordering Practice (STOP) decision support tool to improve patient and laboratory outcomes, reduce costs and waste.   Test result management: Development and implementation of PathWorks, a digital health innovation to enhance the safe and efficient follow-up and management of test results.   Musculoskeletal care: Risk assessment tools to quantify the probability of fragility fractures, related outcomes of subsequent fractures, mortality; and the evaluation of medication safety.   Diabetes care: An electronic diabetes dashboard to improve the quality of care for patients with diabetes by reducing major adverse outcomes.   Infectious diseases: Evaluating the clinical and health economic impacts of rapid molecular diagnostic tests used in the diagnosis of acute respiratory viral infections.   Partners and Funding: This project is funded by the NHMRC Partnership Grant (2006755) and run in collaboration with partners including the Australian Institute of Health Innovation at Macquarie University, Southeastern Sydney Local Health District, Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, and NSW Health Pathology.