A new hospital admission and discharge notification pilot designed by eHealth NSW’s Integrated Care Program in partnership with the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) will be launching soon. It is designed to help shape a future statewide solution.
Notifications, sent as an event summary, will be delivered from MNCLHD hospitals to the patient-nominated GP via secure messaging. This includes GPs who work outside of the Mid North Coast.
Event summaries will include:
- ED discharge notification
- Admission notifications – inpatient, including when patient is transferred from ED to an inpatient ward
- Discharge notification – inpatient
The pilot is due to start in early August and is planned to run for four months.
Admission and discharge notifications will be ‘turned on’ for most patients — you can download the MNCLHD list of inclusions here.
Difference between Mid North Coast LHD and Northern NSW LHD admission and discharge notifications:
Admission and discharge notifications (ADNs) are intended to improve the flow of information to the GP about a patient’s health journey beyond primary care.
Both the Mid North Coast LHD and Northern NSW LHD are partnering with Healthy North Coast and local GPs to develop their ADN platforms, framework and strategies for adoption.
There are some key differences in the two LHD approaches:
- NNSWLHD ADNs are being used for specific patients only — typically patients enrolled in the Winter Strategy program, Chronic Disease Management (CDM) and other integrated care patients — as a targeted approach to support vulnerable patients. These patients are usually those requiring chronic/complex care, including mental health.
- MNCLHD’s ADN pilot will be turned on for a broader range of patients — click here to download a list of inclusions for more information.
Northern NSW GPs who receive notifications from a Mid North Coast LHD facility during this pilot should direct any questions or follow up to the contact details provided in the notification.
In 2019, MNCLHD surveyed local general practices about admission and discharge notifications:
- 83% of respondents wanted to receive electronic admission notifications.
- 75% of respondents wanted both electronic admission and discharge notifications.
Awareness of admission (means I) can talk with clinical staff if we have important information that they need for care of the patient. Can also contact family and arrange supports etc and be aware that patient may need to (see) us after discharge and arrange early DC review especially if DC summary is not timely eg orthopaedic admissions.
Discharge summaries sometimes come through much later with discharge notifications for some patients you will know exactly when to start follow up.
Have questions?
Our Healthy North Coast Digital Team would love to hear from you: click here
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