Where to next for NSW $1 billion patient health record system?

Digital & Innovation: The NSW government’s ambitious $1 billion Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) system has hit a milestone, with the state-wide rollout projected for 2029-2030. The system aims to streamline patient care by allowing 170,000 staff across 228 NSW hospitals and clinics to access patient medical records.

As the government seeks feedback from medical and clinical staff to ensure that the SDPR meets the unique needs of both metropolitan and regional Local Health Districts (LHDs), concerns about the system’s limitations have surfaced. Notably, the current SDPR plans do not facilitate cross-state data sharing, a decision that perpetuates the fragmented nature of care across Australia.

Despite its potential, the SDPR initiative has not been without controversy. Former Sydney Local Health District CEO, Teresa Anderson, who now leads the SDPR implementation authority, was ousted after a turbulent year. Her leadership faced open revolt from medical staff, prompting an intervention from the NSW Health Minister.

Most recently, the SDPR team has been actively engaging with healthcare workers across various facilities in gathering essential feedback to ensure the SDPR is tailored to the diverse needs of the NSW health system.

The Hunter New England LHD and the NSW Health Pathology North Network laboratories are slated to be the first to implement the SDPR in 2026, followed by the Justice and Forensic Mental Health Network. These networks currently use Orion Health systems, which will be replaced by the new SDPR framework.

Dr Grant Rogers, Clinical Director of SDPR at eHealth NSW, said “LHD, SDPR, and Epic representatives gained immense insights on our recent rural and regional site visits in Far West Local Health District (FWLHD), Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) including Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and Aboriginal Health Service Centres.

“The extraordinary work ethic and can-do attitude of all staff, overcoming IT connectivity, integration of disparate IT systems and the tyranny of distance was inspiring. Now, armed with greater understanding of the regional/rural challenges, we will work collaboratively on configuring the SDPR.”

The SDPR will consolidate 9 Electronic Medical Records (eMRs), 10 Patient Administration Systems (PASs), and 5 Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMSs).

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