Your bank manager has access to more personal information about you than your doctor does.

And yet, instant access to patient records could mean the difference between life and death – as a new report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare demonstrates.

The report details exactly how many Australian patients have been seriously harmed or accidentally killed while being treated in hospitals. 

Between 2004-2005, 130 serious mistakes occurred in hospitals around Australia.  Of those, 53 of them were procedures involving the wrong patient or the wrong body part.  7 patients died from being given the wrong drugs.

The report reveals that many of the errors occurred when patients were transferred from one department of a hospital to another, and staff were unfamiliar with the patient. 

This is just one more study in a long line which demonstrates a clear link between avoidable patient deaths and poor communication and record-keeping by healthcare practitioners.

There really is no excuse for inaccurate information leading to loss of life.  We have medical software developers and computer systems integrators with the technology and the capacity to streamline health information system today!

In the US, doctors could soon be storing essential medical information under the skin of their patients by using radio frequency identification tags.  The American Medical Association says that devices the size of a grain of rice - implanted with a needle - could give emergency room doctors quick access to the records of chronically ill patients.

Meanwhile, in Australia e-health initiatives worth hundreds of millions of dollars in various states have been cancelled or delayed for years.

The news is not all bad.  The National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) is driving an e-health initiative that would see each person in Australia allocated an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI).  The IHI, once implemented, will enable the current ‘islands of information’ we have between hospitals, pathology laboratories and general practitioners to be connected.

With the consent of the patient, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals will be able to communicate quickly, reliably and securely by electronic means. 

ICT transforms and increases productivity across all sectors of the economy, but in the case of e-health it can also save lives. AIIA’s member companies – and the broader ICT community - are ready, able and willing to supply.  We know there’s a need.  It’s time for the Australian community to demand a better system.

Sheryle Moon
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Information Industry Association

AIIA has launched a new portal for women in the ICT industry at www.setupforsuccess.com.au

Whether you’ve just started your journey in ICT or you are an experienced veteran, AIIA’s Set Up for Success portal can help you with information and resources to take your career to the next level.

There's also a discussion board for you to share your thoughts, ideas and inspirations for women in ICT.  So visit Set Up for Success and see what's there!

Join the Who’s Who of the Australian ICT industry in Canberra on Wednesday 15 August.

Industry and government are working together to address the ICT skills shortage, with a new secondary schools program proving popular in Queensland.

AIIA has reported success with its ICT: Start Here. Go Anywhere program.  The program was launched last year at the National ICT Skills Summit.  AIIA was a founding participant of the program, which encourages secondary school students from years 8 to 10 to explore the wide range of exciting global career opportunities in the ICT industry.

With the skills squeeze a reality for most ICT companies in Australia, it’s more important than ever that HR managers balance the dual goals of rewarding employees while achieving strategic business targets.

Companies that don’t pay their employees enough risk losing them to competitors.  Companies who pay too much risk their bottom line.

So how do HR managers keep their fingers on the pulse of salaries and benefits in the ICT industry?

• Make a difference
• Dynamic industry
• Committed team

Are you looking for a more rewarding role? Ready to move into a role where you really make a difference to the people you interact with?

Australian Government agencies are required to complete their annual procurement plans (APPs) by July each year. In the last few weeks, most FMA and CAC agencies have updated their APPs and these are now available from Austender.

These provide a rich source of information for suppliers on ICT opportunities for the forthcoming 12 months. AIIA member company, Intermedium, has already analysed the plans in detail and on 7 August, will provide suppliers with insights into technological and procurement trends, likely 'hot spots' for the year and information that will help you ensure that sales efforts are directed to real opportunities. AIIA and Intermedium are pleased to be able to offer AIIA members a discounted rate. To register, contact Fleur Bayley on (02) 9817 5757.

On Tuesday 31 July, Telstra's CEO, Sol Trujillo, will share his thoughts about how life is changing in the Web 2.0 world.