Clever Networks Transforms Chronic Disease Management
98/07
24 July 2007
Senator the Hon Helen Coonan
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan today announced the eighth preferred applicant under the first round of the Clever Networks program.
Precedence Health Care's Chronic Disease Management Network, CDM-Net: ABroadband Health Network for Transforming Chronic Disease Management, will use broadband to transform the management of chronic disease thanks to $2 million in funding by the Australian Government.
CDM-Net will create a network of health services for monitoring and supporting care management.
"Chronic illness requires close monitoring and ongoing management across an entire team of care professionals," Senator Coonan said.
"People suffering from chronic disease need to be provided with a care plan, detailing medications, treatments, tests, and referrals tailored to their specific circumstances, and CDM-Net will facilitate that.
CDM-Net will use secure broadband services to connect healthcare providers to one another and to their patients. It will assist healthcare providers create and track care plans for their chronically ill patients and support patients in their adherence to care plans through electronic reminders and alerts.
"The network will improve care coordination by sharing information on patient care across the entire care team," Senator Coonan said.
"The project will support the roll out of chronic disease management applications in urban, regional, remote and rural Australia while fostering Australian information communication technology innovation."
Senator Coonan said a key concept behind the solution is an 'open' network of services.
"This allows different organisations, including private sector organisations, to 'plug in' to the network.
"This will enable the provision of a range of chronic disease management services across a wide population.
"CDM-Net will be initially implementedin the Barwon South Western Region of Victoria, however it has the potential to be rolled out across other regions of Victoria and nationally," Senator Coonan said.
Clever Networks is a $113 million Australian Government program that will see smart solutions to improve delivery of services in regional, rural and remote Australia through innovative broadband projects.
Successful projects to receive Clever Networks first round funding will include virtual healthcare, remotely accessible interactive education services, and delivery of integrated state-wide emergency services.
More information about specific projects will become available as each successful project is announced.
More information about Clever Networks is available at www.dcita.gov.au/clevernetworks
Media Contact: Senator Coonan’s office, Katherine Meier 0417 441 141