The Department of Health's new Patient Alerts Management Solution enables healthcare professionals to enter and update patient alert information into the digital medical record in real-time. 

This replaces paper-based processes and ensures clinical staff have the most current information available at any location. 

The new alerts solution is an important part of our Digital Health Transformation, a 10-year program aiming to improve patient outcomes through statewide, digitally enabled technologies.  

Since its implementation in late November 2024, the Patient Alerts Management Solution has already made a substantial impact. The number of new and updated alerts and allergies recorded each week has risen from nearly 600 to nearly 1 000 (a 70% increase). 

The new alerts solution allows clinicians such as Clinical Nurse Consultant Kylie Shelverton to directly enter patient alerts and allergies onto the patient’s digital medical record.  

“In the Emergency Department, it’s quite common for a new patient to present with an anaphylaxis, and this allergy can now be entered into the patient’s medical record at the point of care by the treating clinicians.

“This information is then visible for all other clinicians treating the patient and is available in real time across our locations.”

Trixie Kemp, Director – Health Information Management Services and co-project sponsor, says the new solution enhances the accuracy of patient information but also leads to quicker, safer and more effective care delivery. 

“The new patient alerts solution helps us achieve the highest standards of clinical care, enhance the quality, structure and accuracy of alert information, improve clinical handover, and deliver better outcomes and safety for patients.”

What is the Digital Health Transformation Program? 

The Digital Health Transformation Program is a 10-year, $476 million program of work that will transform the state’s health system into a world-class, innovative and integrated system.  

The program empowers patients, carers and healthcare workers to deliver better outcomes through system-wide, digitally enabled models of care. 

Lisa Hagstrom, Director Digital Health, says the Program is now focused on finding suitable partners to deliver a modern Statewide Electronic Medical Record, as well as a new Ambulance Patient Care Record. 

“By 2032, these major investments will form the foundations for an integrated care platform across Tasmania that will enable our hospitals, GPs, community health, allied health and other specialist providers to seamlessly communicate and share information with each other.” 

 The digital transformation will deliver a range of benefits for patients including: 

• Access to convenient healthcare in local communities 
• Improved communications about appointments 
• Reduced waiting time for services 
• Less duplication of care and forms, and 
• Prevention of unnecessary hospital visits. 

It will also free up clinicians to spend more time on caring for patients, and less time on administrative tasks and chasing up paperwork. 

Read more about the Digital Health Transformation here.