Patient Reported Measures

are automatically transcribed into the eRMS with limited human input, saving substantial administration time. This amounts to 5-10 minutes per referral, which is time administration staff can spend on other tasks, like calling and booking patients.

Ideally, the LHD would prefer to receive eReferrals as they are faster for referrers to send and more secure. However, fax needs continued support in the near to medium term as it continues to be heavily used by referrers, even to LHD services which have had eReferrals available for two years.

The Project Lead for NNSWLHD Tim Marsh said, “Fax has been around for a long time and is easy to use at both ends. We think successfully switching to eReferrals will depend on two main factors: firstly, more LHD services being made eReferralcapable, and secondly, time. It will take time for the LHD to extend eReferrals to more LHD services, and pair that with communication to GPs to help shift their usual process of writing referrals to the LHD from “Letter Writer” and instead remember “referrals to the LHD are via eReferrals.”

The eRMS positions Northern NSW Local Health District to extend eReferrals and electronic referral management to more services pending a local evaluation. This means GPs will have access to more LHD services via eReferrals over time and allow referrers and the LHD to lessen the reliance on fax for referrals.

Rebecca Davey – Manager Leading Better Value Care

Ph: 0428 167 349 Email: rebecca.davey2@health.nsw.gov.au ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

What are Patient Reported Measures (PRMs)?

Patient Reported Measures capture what matters to a patient in their life. It enables the patient to provide direct timely feedback to their healthcare professional about outcomes and experiences that are important to them. It also enables a consistent and structured method to capture and use Patient Reported Measure Outcomes and Experiences in real time. This information will also support services to identify opportunities to improve outcomes overtime.

The acronyms you need to know!

PRMs - Patient Reported Measures

“Providing a sustainable health system that delivers outcomes that matter to patients, is personalised, invests in wellness and is digitally enabled”

Quick Facts PROMIS29: What is it?

A health-related quality of life PROM consisting of 29 questions

What’s it for?

To provide an overall summary of Physical, Mental and Social well being

What does it measure?

Seven health areas:

● Physical function ● Fatigue ● Pain interference

● Pain intensity ● Sleep disturbance ● Depression ● Anxiety ● Ability to participate in social roles and activities

Why is it useful?

● Identifies and formalises the patient’s own health perceptions ● Measures change from a patient’s personal perspective ● Helps prioritise rehabilitation goals that are most important to the patient

● Identifies areas of need that may benefit from additional support or referral

How is it calculated?

Via the HOPE platform (The system used to store and manage the online surveys) with results available for clinicians in real-time.

Clinician Story

“PRMs provide a great simple visual indication of areas of improvement to share with clients along their treatment [and] a great opportunity to discuss anxiety and depression symptoms with clients and suggest referral to social work for appropriate support.

I am really keen to get PREM responses from my client group in order to evaluate the service”

What Next?

Plans for late 2023 will include the full integration of PRMs into eMR/CHOC. This will significantly improve the usability, accessibility and integration of PRMs throughout the health system.