Queensland health system reacts to real-time data
Queensland’s new Open Hospitals portal allows the public to access real-time data on how many patients are waiting to be treated and the median wait time in 25 major emergency departments across the state.
Launched on Sunday, February 2, the Open Hospitals website has proven popular with thousands of Queenslanders logging on and checking the performance of the state’s 25 major emergency departments and seven satellite hospitals, currently in the system.
The portal updates every 15 minutes showing limited emergency department data, including median waiting times, number of patients waiting and number of permanent treatment spaces.
This is the first time in Queensland that real-time data on Queensland Health performance has been available for analysis. Previously such information was released quarterly, which was less helpful for those in need of immediate medical care.
In its first 24 hours of operation, the site was checked by 5735 total users, with 88 per cent accessing it from their mobile phones. The most viewed hospitals in order were Logan, Ipswich, Princess Alexandra, Royal Brisbane Women’s and Children’s.
Keith Tracey-Patte, chief executive officer of Health Consumers Queensland, commended the government for designing the website with consumer input and said this is an important forward step, helping consumers to be better informed.
“This new website allows consumers to view real-time, high-quality data so that they can make decisions about how best to access health care services they need,” said Tracey-Patte.
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Frontline healthcare workers have also spoken in favour of Open Hospitals.
AMA Queensland President Dr Nick Yim said it was a “welcome first step in modernising our health system and something AMA Queensland has urged the Government to do for years, including in our Ambulance Ramping Roundtable and Surgical Wait List Roundtable Action Plans”.
“We cannot improve hospital performance without transparent and up-to-date information,” Yim said.
“Real-time data allows the public to see where delays are occurring so they can make informed decisions about when and where to seek treatment.
“It also has the potential to allow clinicians to better manage hospital resources, diverting them where they are needed most.”
Dr Danielle Allan, President of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland, said the launch was an achievement in pulling meaningful data from several systems to ensure transparency for the public.
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“It will have benefits for our general practitioners as well when needing to refer patients from primary care into the hospital emergency department or minor illness and injury clinics,” Allan said.
“The 25 sites are a great first step and include regional sites and we look forward to seeing more sites included over time and eventually all Queensland Health Emergency Departments included in the data.”
Yim said he would not only like to see the locations included in Open Hospital expanded but the kinds of data collected as well.
“The portal still has a long way to go if it is going to provide a full picture of the situation in our hospitals at any given moment in time,” he said.
“Clinicians on the floor need real-time bed availability data and it must be integrated with systems like inpatient services, outpatient appointments and aged care vacancies. We also need to see other key metrics like the number of patient presentations and discharges.
“We look forward to working with the Government to expand the metrics and other information available in the portal so it can truly help transform our health system for the future.”
The Crisafulli Government is positioning the successful launch of the Open Hospitals website as a victory for its 100 Day Plan, which committed to providing transparency and accountability while supporting increased public awareness of the health system.
Minister for Ambulance and Health Services Tim Nicholls said “there are no silver bullets to fix the multiple challenges our health system faces, but Open Hospitals is an important first step, providing accurate real-time information to Queenslanders”.
“It’s vitally important that Queenslanders get the right care for their condition,” Nichols said, while also cautioning that the website is for helping people make informed decisions about when and where to seek treatment, not absolute or emergency recommendations.
“I want to make it clear, anyone who needs emergency attention should go to their nearest emergency department or call an ambulance on Triple-0 (000) for assistance,” he stressed.
