Charting the path for system reform: NSW Health leaders discuss key priorities

MedTech & Diagnostics News: Deborah Willcox, Deputy Secretary of Health System Strategy and Planning at NSW Health and Dr Jean-Frédéric Levesque, Deputy Secretary of Clinical Innovation and Research division of NSW Health, took centre stage at the PCHSS Showcase: Future Proofing Healthcare. The event, hosted by the Australian Institute of Health Innovation (AIHI) at Macquarie University, brought together esteemed experts, researchers, and partners from across Australia to discuss and evaluate interventions aimed at enhancing the sustainability of the country’s healthcare system.

Acknowledging the increasing pressure on the healthcare system due to global and national trends, Ms Willcox, who is also the former Chief Executive of the Northern Sydney Local Health District, stressed the need for proactive measures to maintain high performance. She referred to the Future of Health Systems 2030 paper, which highlighted several key trends impacting the industry, including genomics, education, AI, and more.

Harnessing the potential of innovation, digital advancements, big data, precision medicine, and consumer engagement are key areas of focus for NSW Health. Ms Willcox emphasised the ongoing efforts to build a single digital medical record platform for the entire state, facilitating seamless information sharing. Other initiatives, such as the Lumos data sets and early work on AI, are poised to revolutionise decision-making and improve patient care journeys.

“We’re tracking our progress, holding ourselves accountable, and working tirelessly to provide our patients with a truly joined-up health system,” she declared.

Ms Willcox also highlighted the need for collaborative efforts between the state and the Commonwealth to overcome structural barriers and drive healthcare reform. While acknowledging the challenges of aligning the pace of innovation with the bureaucratic processes, she underscored the significance of initiatives such as collaborative commissioning and a single front door for patient triage. The acceleration of virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic was also highlighted as a key area of progress.

Amidst ongoing structural reform, two significant endeavours, ‘Future Health Strategy’ and ‘Value-Based Healthcare’ were highlighted as critical building blocks for system-wide transformation.

‘Future health’ initiatives aim to ensure seamless and integrated experiences for citizens, empower community and patient involvement in care decisions, and drive investment in wellness and equity.

Value-Based Healthcare, a principle that focuses on measuring outcomes rather than mere outputs and centring care around individuals, was particularly emphasised. Ms Willcox cited a case study involving the reduction of hospitalisation rates for citizens with diabetes through a multidisciplinary approach, demonstrating the effectiveness of aligning principles with patient-centred care.

“Having access to transparent and connected data is critical. We need to also align our performance, purchasing and funding processes with the outcomes of future health,” she said.

Joining the discussion, Dr Levesque highlighted several NSW Health initiatives, including the elective surgery improvement plan that is currently being rolled out across the state’s healthcare system.

“It’s about stopping low-value surgery and promoting value-based care,” he said. “Through the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery program, we prepare patients for surgery and reduce the level of acute care required through surgical pathways.” He also stressed the significance of prehabilitation and alternative care trajectories in joint replacement surgeries to optimise the utilisation of healthcare resources.

The telestroke service, a NSW Health program that has been gradually expanded over the course of three to four years, was hailed as an exemplary initiative that aligns with the future of healthcare. “We now have 23 rural and regional hospitals providing stroke care through the telestroke program,” he proudly announced.

Another significant program highlighted by Dr Levesque was the Patient Reported Measures (PRM) initiative. The program, currently in the implementation phase, aims to accelerate its integration into more clinical settings and expand its reach to various patient cohorts.

“This is not a measurement or evaluation program. This is a clinical information system that will help clinicians to always have good evidence about the health trajectory of their patients to tailor their care according to what’s most important for them from a health and quality of life perspective,” he commented.

In a bid to anticipate future healthcare needs, Dr Levesque outlined NSW Health’s efforts in utilising dynamic simulation modelling and advanced data analytics. He acknowledged the need for strong partnerships with academic institutions to drive these methods forward.

“By employing predictive and prescriptive analytics, NSW Health seeks to leverage evidence-based insights to plan services, assess the impact of innovations, and drive transformation in healthcare delivery,” he said.

Ms Wilcox added “We are really working to find meaningful action in the present to set us up for the future. We believe the work and the capability within NSW Health and our impetus with the Commonwealth to drive reform really sets us up for good transformational change.”

With ongoing collaborations and reform efforts, NSW Health aims to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape and provide improved, sustainable care for all Australians.

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