* Karen Dearne * From: The Australian * March 01, 2011 12:00AM http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/sector-in-dire-need-of-funding/story-fn7uxxqa-1226013415909
Adam Powick
* ADAM POWICK, Deloitte Australia, Lead partner, consulting practice * FULL REPORT: Predictions 2011
THE local e-health industry is in for a shake up, with acquisitions, new entrants and consolidation ahead this year, Adam Powick says.
"Many parts of the sector are just hanging on, and they need an injection of funds," he says. "That may come from government for those who are successful in the next round of projects.
"But I think there will also be fresh money as newcomers take equity in local firms, particularly those with good technologies.
"Private health insurers and telcos will also be playing a more active role in the market."
Powick says serious progress has to be made on the ground this year if the Gillard government's 2012 deadline for the introduction of personal e-health records is to be met.
"It is critical that we kick off a meaningful set of projects, and those projects have to be well on the way to delivering at least their first phases by December," he says.
"Hopefully, we will also have an overarching and co-ordinated plan for the associated activities, a better defined architecture and a communication and change strategy."
It's an important year for the National E-Health Transition Authority, he says. "We really need a fair bit more specification in certain standards that underpin the program.
"NEHTA has a key task to ensure those standards get to the next level of maturity and definition in conjunction with the roll out of the lead sites."
Powick hopes the Healthcare Identifier service will commence at several sites - "that's a pretty pivotal milestone".
Meanwhile, it's essential to ensure the business models are commercially viable. "E-health programs must be sustainable over time," he says. "Some software companies are close to the edge, and they'll need continuing income streams and infrastructure support."
Powick warns of the need to focus on "meat and potatoes" this year.
"The only way we can gain traction is by leveraging what's already in place," he says. "We really need to embark on projects where we've got the best possible chance of achieving good outcomes."
Failure to win over users could be a show-stopper. "Ultimately, this isn't going to work unless health providers use the systems and populate them with data," Powick says. "Clinical usability has to be front and centre, so we need to involve doctors and nurses throughout the design process.
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