“O Deep Thought computer," he said, "the task we have designed you to perform is this. We want you to tell us...." he paused, "The Answer."
"The Answer?" said Deep Thought. "The Answer to what?"
"Life!" urged Fook. "The Universe!" said Lunkwill. "Everything!" they said in chorus.
Deep Thought paused for a moment's reflection.
"Tricky," he said finally.
- Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
Tricky indeed.
Computers, or more particularly their interconnections, are changing our lives. Visits to the bank, or even an ATM, are increasingly rare. Handling cash is a nuisance so we go to the store that takes PayWave in preference. Online shopping through PayPal provides safe transactions and a wider range of goods than the biggest store.
Governments around the world are embracing this phenomenon. Australia's myGov website is a portal to many services. You can access your details with the Tax Office, Superannuation, Medicare, DVA, Centrelink, Aged Care Services, Child Support as well as several other services. Simply log on with your user name and password and enter the security code sent to your mobile.
There are challenges, however. You cannot remember your password. Your security code has gone to your old mobile number. You cannot spell your mother's maiden name. With perseverance and lots of calls you will probably get back on line, so maybe handling cash and waiting in queues weren't so bad.
In this edition of GPSpeak, Peter Machell from HealthIT computing ponders moving your computer infrastructure to the "Cloud" (page 19). While this is almost certainly inevitable for future general practice, the current concerns about privacy and accessibility will make most GPs justifiably cautious.
The push to online services may have a stronger case for other medical professionals. North Coast Radiology Group have launched their new Online Support services for general practitioners and patients. In the era of filmless radiology we are increasingly dependent on access to the radiologist's database to view the images. Practices will also find it useful to download radiology request forms if only for the patient information about the investigation.
Patient management is also increasingly cloud based. The National e-Mental Health Strategy has a web first approach aimed at people with mild to moderate symptoms of mental illness.
Similarly, pain management resources provided by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation are a valuable resource for both the patient and his treating health team as described by Andrew Binns on page 17.
The pain management workshop held in February this year under the auspices of the North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN) and the Northern NSW Local Health District explored ways to manage this common condition using appropriate resources from both the primary and secondary sectors.
The closer collaboration between these two organisations is also starting to bear fruit in local e-health. As reported on page 15, GPs of patients enrolled in the Integrated Care Collaborative are now getting admission and discharge notifications. This is statewide first and the first step in improving the handover of care from primary to secondary systems and back again. Consolidating the business processes arising from this improved information flow, and expanding the system to a wider group of patients is a task for the near future.
As technology drives improvements in health care it is easy to lose sight of the patient. Finding meaning in life is important to improving the health of many elderly patients. This can be a hobby, becoming part of a group or volunteering. On page 12 Andrew Binns reminds us of our "ABCs for mental wellbeing" and its theoretical underpinnings in Viktor Frankl's "Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy".
On page 9, Robin Osborne describes the benefits that accrue to patients, volunteers and society generally from organisations like Northern Rivers Gateway and LINC National.
Our cover features a stunning image of tawny frogmouth owls captured by octogenarian, Wal Bailey. His passion for photographing local wildlife has created a rich treasure trove of images. His many photos, such as those found on page 11, are available licence free for public display.
On page 5, Dr Jane Barker's article "First do no self-harm" reinforces the value in taking care of both ourselves and our junior colleagues.
Finally, the amazing story of The Brotherhood of the Blues (page 7) shows what can be achieved even when the cards are stacked against you.
Information and communication technology (ICT) changes society subtly and usually in small incremental steps, but it is through caring and sharing with others that we find satisfaction and meaning in our daily lives.
See 42 for the complete solution to this problem.
