CSIRO and Queensland Partner for Better Health Services
16 August 2003
Brisbane, Australia
Better access to health services for patients no matter where they are is the aim of a new $15M joint venture between CSIRO and the Queensland Government.
This exciting new venture will deliver healthcare benefits to urban, rural, regional and remote communities in Queensland and the rest of Australia.
For example, a doctor in Far North Queensland may soon be able to collaboratively examine a mammogram or lung x-ray with a colleague in Brisbane to reach a quicker and more certain diagnosis.
It will also mean that, by using advanced telecommunications for access to experts, hospitals, no matter where they are located, will be able to offer many of the specialised services, and provide standards of care, currently only available at a big base hospital.
Other possible benefits include technologies that will allow doctors in remote centres to seek advice from specialists in capital cities in real time over advanced networks.
For patients it will mean equal access to quality health services regardless of location. For medical experts it will mean less need to travel.
CSIRO already has expertise and existing research programs in the field of e-Health that make a good starting point for further research.
The e-Health R&D facility will be located in Queensland in a new state-of-the-art facility with up to 20 research scientists working on various projects.
The research agenda will be developed by the Queensland Department of Health and CSIRO and it is anticipated that Queensland Universities will play an important role in the research projects.
Areas of research will focus on patient centred technologies for seamless delivery of health services regardless of distance.
This activity will leverage the extensive tele-health network and experience that has already been built in Queensland. Queensland Health will trial new technology outcomes to gauge effectiveness and acceptance.
This facility, under the umbrella of an Institute for ICT Innovation, forms part of Queensland's "Smart State" agenda being pursued by the Department of State Development and Innovation.
For further information contact:
Gary Morgan
Chief Executive Officer
e-Health Research Centre
Mobile: 0412 177 780
Phone: 07 3024 1600