Informatics and eHealth
Description and aims
This stream aims to identify ways that utilise informatics and ehealth technologies to improve the prevention, management and integration of primary health care and other health services for long-term conditions and positively impact on health and wellbeing.
Our focus is on the effective use of biomedical data, information, and knowledge and the translation of digital applications that support quality care, redesign delivery systems and optimise healthcare processes, knowledge resources, patient self- management, sustainability, reporting and analysis.
Key current research and development areas:
eHealth research
The use, impact and outcomes of information and communication technologies to support the delivery of enhanced models of primary healthcare and improved wellbeing using telehealth, electronic shared care plans and mHealth for disease prevention and management across different age groups and literacy levels.
Informatics research
Applying clinical, administrative, routinely collected datasets and contextual information to solve problems, quality improvement and to inform decision making in clinical practice, health service development and policy development using the CES Primary and Community Cohort and other data resources.
Key strengths and skills
Our research team has developed expertise in the:
- Development of self-management digital applications for effective chronic disease prevention and management.
- Implementation of digital applications to redesign delivery systems to support planned multidisciplinary care in primary care
- Development and evaluation of decision support tools for assessing risk of disease for consumers and health providers, prevalence and social determinants.
Our focus has been on research in primary care or at the interface between specialist/hospital services and the community. Because these require significant change in work practices, we have encountered resistance especially since COVID-19. A challenge for future research is to design interventions that reduce friction involved in changed practice and highlight gains for users.
Key partners
This research is conducted in partnership with general practices, Primary Health Networks, Local Health Districts, the NSW Ministry of Health/eHealth NSW, and non-government organisations.
Stream lead
Margo Barr and Jane Taggart
