Care at the click of a mouse
"The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission said let's connect up care so that we only investigate somebody once, we hand over care once, and GPs and hospitals can operate as one health system.
"Right now, GPs cannot interface electronically with hospital systems. It's frustrating."
Hambleton says unique identifiers for patients, providers and locations are an essential first step, along with investment in electronic communication systems.
"Yes, it will be expensive to set up, but e-health will very rapidly become cost-effective," he says.
Michael Gration, Microsoft's local health director, claims the government remains focused on narrow, short-term goals.
"The exponential level of change needed in healthcare reform -- not only here but elsewhere -- will require significant investment in IT," he says.
"While the government has just committed to adding a large number of beds and doctors, the states have already made high levels of investment in acute care.
