Intelligent Health.tech Issue 19 | Page 46

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DISEASE PREVENTION IS UNDERVALUED , AND WE DON ’ T DO ENOUGH , ESPECIALLY WITH THE VOLUME OF DATA AVAILABLE .
R E G I O N A L C H E C K - U P

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DISEASE PREVENTION IS UNDERVALUED , AND WE DON ’ T DO ENOUGH , ESPECIALLY WITH THE VOLUME OF DATA AVAILABLE .

in this is the National Healthmap to allow policy-makers , health planners , researchers and consumers to utilise this data for the ‘ Social Determinants of Health ’. And has evolved in the creation of an International Standard for Health Services Libraries in 2013 .
The National Health Services Directory is a comprehensive library of health and social care services and related provider information that was launched in July 2012 . It serves as a national ‘ single source of truth ’, which means that it is a reliable and trustworthy source of information . Australians can use it to quickly find their closest health service and its opening hours , even if they are crossing jurisdictional borders .
The directory includes GPs , hospitals , emergency departments and pharmacies , with additional health services , including allied health and aged care providers , added over time . Healthcare providers can use the directory to make referrals , discharge summaries , etc . for their patients .
The National Health Services Directory is also available as a smartphone app and through many governments and Medicare Local websites throughout Australia ( Healthdirect Australia Annual Report 2012 – 2013 ).
The Australian National Healthmap uses a ‘ Google Maps interface ’ to unify the vast number of datasets held by numerous stakeholders so that evidence-based decisions can be made by health planners , policy-makers , consumers and researchers .
In addition , this system enables health and social care organisations , whether public , private or not-for-profit , to leverage a vast knowledge base and acquire valuable insights at a local , national and possibly international scale . This can aid in the planning and providing care for consumers , even down to their postcode . �
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