FNQ doc says they are resigning over rollout of $35m eHealth medical record project

A leaked survey of doctors using Queensland Health’s new $35m electronic medical record for the Far North has condemned the program’s functionality and safety – with one even saying they were resigning because of it.

A FAR North doctor with 10 years under their belt at a health care clinic said they were resigning because of the “distressing” impact of a new Queensland Health electronic medical record that cost $35m.

The Cairns Post has obtained a copy of an internal Queensland Health survey of 27 medical officers using RIVeR, the multimillion-dollar taxpayer-funded program designed to provide a single electronic medical record across primary, community and hospital health care settings from the Torres Strait to the Cassowary Coast.

Responses to all questions in the April survey included more than 20 comments voicing concerns regarding “patient harm, and clinical/medico-legal risk”.

The program, which took five years to develop, has been slammed by the Together Union and the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union.

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service chief executive Beverley Hamerton.

MORE NEWS:

Man caught selling MDMA in Gilligan’s learns fate

Joshua Russell Best sentenced to jail over 110g meth stash

How vintage car insurance fraud was discovered

Union officials have written to Queensland Health outlining their concerns.

Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service chief executive Beverley Hamerton on Wednesday said the health service was confident RIVeR was fit for purpose as a multidisciplinary primary health care record system.

She said patient safety was not being compromised by the implementation of the new system, and that it was typical during the introduction of new IT systems for there to be a “bedding down” process.

But people on the ground are extremely unhappy, according to the survey.

“I cannot continue to work at the (Primary Health Care Clinic) I have been at for 10 years,” wrote one doctor, responding to a question about the overall impact of RIVeR.

“I am finishing there because of RIVeR and ONLY because of RIVeR. I have found the whole experience very distressing.

“We have waited for three years for a promised (electronic medical record), we looked forward to it, we engaged with enthusiasm and optimism – very disappointed.”

The doctor also took aim at the memo which was posted on the wall of their clinic advising staff not to discuss frustrations related to the program with patients.

“I don’t have words for it – but I find it Orwellian,” they said.

The survey also revealed no doctors believed there had been an increase in efficiency as a result of RIVeR’s introduction, 15 per cent thought there had been “no change”, 18.5 per cent believed it was “slightly worse” and 66.6 per cent believed it was “much worse”.

While the extent varied, many comments from doctors said RIVeR took two-three times longer to use than previous systems, while others described a decrease in patients seen per hour between 25 per cent and 60 per cent.

“This reduced efficiency has significant implications for workforce, patient care and revenue generation,” the survey said.

The survey revealed no doctors believed there had been an increase in efficiency as a result of RIVeR’s introduction.

Other common frustrations centred around the program’s capability for chronic disease recalls, prescribing, clinical handover with other service providers, Xray/Path request generation and checking and recalling investigations.

“Overall, no one felt that the impact introduction of RIVeR has been ‘great’, 7.4 per cent had said the impact had been ‘good’, 7.4 per cent were ‘neutral’, while 85.2 per cent responded the impact had been ‘bad’ or ‘terrible’,” the survey said.

Ms Hamerton said the health service had listened to its staff about issues with RIVeR and identified a number of immediate IT fixes for the system.

“Clinicians were consulted and heavily involved throughout the development of the system,” she said.

“We value the continued input and feedback of our staff during this process and we are addressing issues as they are formally reported to us by users.

“We are continuing to work with clinicians, Telstra Health and eHealth Queensland on refinements that can be made to the program and additional clinician training provided to improve the user experience and ensure the system fully supports clinical workflows.”

Originally published as FNQ doc says they are resigning over rollout of $35m eHealth medical record project