Minutes
Time and date / 2:00 – 3:30, Wednesday 29 November
Chairperson / Kenneth Cheng, Principal Project Manager
E:
T: 03 9096 5052
M: 0488 898 887
Location / 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Health reform office and project update - Q and A
Will Commonwealth data be incorporated into the analytical framework?
At this time the project only includes linking Department of Health and Human Services data sets.
The Victorian Data Sharing Bill was passed on Tuesday 28 November. As a result the Victorian Centre for Data Insights (VCDI) will coordinate all Victorian Government data linkage and access between departments and agencies. This will eventually including Commonwealth data such as the MBS and PBS
There are currently three accredited centres able to undertake data linkage (AIHE, AIFS and ABS). The VCDI is in the process of gaining this accreditation. All linked data will be de-identified and comply with privacy and security safeguards.
Will data from the PHNs be included? Eg. The PHN reporting schedule.
At this time the project only includes linking Department of Health and Human Services data sets, however there is future potential to include PHN data.
Some data fields are optional for example complex conditions. What is being done to ensure funding is not solely directed at areas which complete more fields and provide more data.
The Community Health Data Alignment Project has focused on improving the quality of community health data submissions. Within the new collection the complex conditions field is mandatory requiring a rating from 1-10, if the client is healthy and field must be marked ‘healthy with no social conditions’.
Diversity characteristics such as visa status, language, ethnicity or CALD may indicate client complexity. Are these data elements included in the linkage?
Yes these are included and can be used to stratify the data and identify a cohort. There is also additional information such as barriers to access. The data will be used for department policy, planning and funding decisions. Therefore data integrity is paramount as errors can cause a breadth of long term issues.
Are the HACC-PYP, CHSP and PHN reporting requirements minimum data sets being used to inform the requirements of the CHMDS?
Three data sets (Dental, Community Health Minimum Data Set and Alcohol and Other Drugs) were reviewed within the scope of this project.
Ideally one platform would consistently collect demographic data, services would continue to report to the department on multiple occasions. The department recognises one data set for all programs and services is challenging as the counting rules vary for each funding stream.
What happens to clients who wish to remain anonymous?
Health services have noted clients often prefer not to register for services and have legitimate reasons to remain anonymous. As client care is our first priority, this will anonymity will continue to be an option within the data set. Further discussion will be held to determine how this will be operationalised.
Community health services do not always have a full view of their clientele. Will the collected data be shared with the sector?
Yes, the Targeting Zero report includes improving the information provided to Health services. There is recognition the department currently collects data from agencies however does not provide any for analysis or board reporting. There are two levels of data provision
(a)Data required for service planning and development
(b)Real time access to client records.
It’s also important to note that the Commonwealth government My Health Record will become an opt out system in 2018.
Annual change process
Will the magnitude of the dataset (scope and size) expand over the next few years?
The scope of the Community Health Data Alignment Project is to minimise the number of data elements collected.New data elements will be analysed to ensure the data collected is necessary, practical and consistent with other data sets.
The department is currently moving towards an outcomes focus and this may eventually impact the CHMDS.
Community Health information practice group
Overall the services supported this initiative noting they need to be more coordinated with the changes and transition that’s happening within the funded programs. The practice group will assist as a vehicle to share what’s happening across the state outside of their direct catchment.
Annual data release
What was the three criteria used to come up with the three options?
The following principles were used to develop the three options
•The model need to provide services with the flexibility to independently undertake analytics.
•The model should be suitable for the whole sector, therefore three options were developed for the sector to consider. Services are also welcome to propose new options.
•Services can contact the department if they have data requirements are beyond the scope of the generic model developed.
The VCDI and the Officer of the Victorian Information Commissioner will be consulted to discuss the risks and considerations of the selected model. This includes privacy and consent considerations.
Data interpretations, representations and assumptions
Concerns were raised that the department and services could draw assumptions and inaccurate conclusions based on the data. The Victorian Healthcare Experience Survey portal presents comparative data for community health services without fostering competition.
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