Assistant Minister for Defence - Defence launches national eHealth System

A new $133 million Defence eHealth System linking Australian Defence Force (ADF) members’ health data from recruitment to discharge was today launched by the Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert.

Mr Robert said the Australian Government is committed to ensuring ADF members are provided with the best possible health care.

“At the heart of Defence’s eHealth System is the provision of improved health care for ADF members,” Mr Robert said.

“The demands of service life can at times lead to physical injury or mental illness. It is therefore essential that Defence’s health services are at the cutting edge to ensure the provision of the best possible health care for our people.”

Mr Robert said the new System had wide ranging benefits that went well beyond simplifying processes and reducing duplication.

“While the new System will certainly reduce red tape, it will also improve the availability of accurate, up-to-date health data to defence members’ treating clinicians and their health care providers,” Mr Robert said.

“Importantly, it will also allow health information to be easily and accurately passed to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs as well as to civilian health providers.

“Ultimately, Defence’s eHealth System will improve patient outcomes and improve Defence’s combat effectiveness.”

The system has been successfully rolled out in Defence health facilities in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. The system will be fully implemented at all Defence health facilities across the rest of Australia by the end of 2014.

The rollout of the Defence eHealth System marks a key milestone in both the Government’s and ADF’s commitment to providing personnel with the best possible health care.

“The Defence eHealth System supports all primary health care services to ADF members and establishes Defence as the first organisation in Australia to introduce a national eHealth record management system,” Mr Robert said.

Media note:

Imagery is available at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20142819

Media contacts:

Richard Briedis (Minister Robert’s Office) (02) 6277 7730 or 0477 391 174

Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999