The yet to be published eHealth Strategy is also expected to recommend that all patients are assigned an IHI, which will be linked to the new public service cards currently being rolled out by the Department of Social Protection.
Speaking to IMN last week at the World of Health IT conference, the Head of ICT at the Department of Health Mr Kevin Conlon explained that work on the introduction of IHIs was at an advanced stage; however, it would need to be backed by legislation under the new Health Information Bill.
The Health Information Bill is expected to be published towards the end of the year and Mr Conlon said the Department of Health was “fairly advanced” on the drafting of the IHI pieces of the Bill.
While the Department of Health had hoped to have a draft of the new eHealth Strategy available for eHealth week, Mr Conlon said that this was not possible; however, he said that it would be available by the end of June.
The need for an IHI has been raised by a number of organisations as one of the most important elements of an effective health information system. In 2009 HIQA recommended that an IHI be introduced as soon as possible.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): June Shannon
Quelle/Source: Irish Medical News, 17.05.2013
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