Tasmania’s health system has received a digital upgrade with the implementation of a new eReferral system across the state’s four hospitals.
The move aims to remove the need for physical referrals, which have traditionally been written by hand, scanned and sent via email or fax.
Instead, the eReferral system will be used for clinicians and patients to communicate, allowing a ‘seamless submission’ of referrals through a secure platform, and instant notification for general practitioners of receipt from the specialist service or clinic.
The eReferral system can also be used by general practitioners to refer their patients to public outpatient services, including specialists and allied health professionals consulting privately, ultimately improving patient safety and outcomes. With the new system, GPs are now kept up to date with the progress of their patient’s referral as they occur.
According to Premier Jeremy Rockliff, the upgraded system will ensure patients receive ‘more timely care’ and spend ‘less time on waiting lists’.
“It’s about moving our health system out of the dark ages; no more faxes, emails are a thing of the past even,” he said.
The eReferral system is now live across the state of Tasmania, and the Premier has encouraged all general practitioners to utilise the new integrated system in their practices.
