Client: The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA), with funding from the Department of Health (Australian Government)
Timeframe: 2014
Background and Need
The impetus to optimise the appropriate ordering of pathology testing through the creation of Electronic Decision Support Tools (EDST) arose from the Pathology Funding Agreement between the Australian Government, Pathology Australia, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and the National Coalition of Public Pathology.
The Funding Agreement required the development of the three main components of Decision Support:
- Electronic Decision Support Tools to assist GPs with pathology decision making tasks
- Episodic panels – the grouping of clinically appropriate tests into a single item of pathology that a GP can request to diagnose or monitor a particular condition
- E-Health initiatives to maximise take up and integration of electronic pathology requesting into GP desktop software
Description of Service
JP Consulting was engaged to deliver a key milestone of the Funding Agreement, which entailed developing a plan for progressing the development of Electronic Decision Support Tools and outlining the key steps and timeframe for further progress, and assistance in the development of a business case to encourage the uptake of these tools by requestors.
Roger Hewitt delivered this project, which involved significant consultation with a range of stakeholders including pathology providers, the Department of Health, NEHTA, general practitioners and GP software vendors.
Outcomes
A report was delivered to RCPA and accepted by the Department of Health. The report laid out the important steps necessary to improve the quality of pathology requests by GPs through an innovative approach to eHealth.