A major transformation is coming to NSW Health’s recordkeeping in the form of the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR). As the largest transformation in Australian healthcare history, it involves a massive shift from a fragmented and disconnected databases to a single, unified electronic medical record.
By centralising data from multiple legacy systems into a single, accessible platform, SDPR provides a huge shot in the arm for the future of healthcare recordkeeping, and makes mobile data security central to success. SDPR promises to change the way healthcare is delivered and received in NSW, making life easier for patients, practitioners, and NSW Health staff. Providing an integrated view of a patient’s care within the NSW Health system, the SDPR unifies access to clinical information, regardless of where individuals go to seek care.
How does SDPR provide a single source of truth?
By enabling a complete picture of a patient’s medical history in one place, SDPR:
- Replaces 9 legacy electronic medical record management, 10 patient administration, and 5 laboratory information management systems.
- Provides access to complete and secure real-time patient data (including pathology, imaging, and medication history) at any location.
- Delivers a more connected experience for patients, minimising the need to repeat their health history at every visit.
Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network (Justice Health NSW) made history by becoming the first NSW Health organisation to go live with the SDPR in April this year. When the rollout is fully complete in 2028, SDPR will link more than 220 public hospitals, more than 150 pathology collection centres, 60 pathology laboratories, and more than 600 community health centres across all 15 NSW Local Health Districts.
This will give healthcare professionals timely access to a holistic record of an individual’s medical information, empowering clinical teams to make informed decisions promptly, streamlining processes, and reducing administrative burdens on staff.
Data governance, privacy, and consent
Robust user access controls are at the heart of this major healthcare transformation. Because sensitive patient information must remain protected while allowing clinicians real-time access to records on mobile devices, mobile data security is essential to the successful implementation and adoption of SDPR. Core components include:
- Mobile Device Management (MDM) for enabling secure access to patient records from various locations.
- Stringent data security measures for protecting patient data, including encryption for data at rest and in transit, user authentication mechanisms, and strict access controls.
- Mobile Threat Detection (MTD) combined with MDM to prevent unauthorised access, mitigate risks from lost or stolen devices, and secure against malware or phishing.
- Regulatory Compliance with the Privacy Act 1998 and the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records Act 2011, including ensuring privacy standards are met and mandatory notification procedures are followed for data breaches.
For more information on the SDPR transformation project and how imei is involved in mobile data security, please get in touch.
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