Electronic Health Records - future and effectiveness

ABC Radio National's Health Report has recently included a panel discussion on the future of Australia's pursuit of electronic health records; a venture that they report has already taken a considerable amount of time and money with little to show for it. The National Health and Hospital Reform Commission argued that the single thing that could most transform the safety, quality and effectiveness of health care in Australia was a shared electronic health record. However, the Coalition a few weeks ago said it would stop funding the development of such an electronic record. "The Coalition's stance may have softened a little since but it's still unclear what they'll do if they win power."