NSW Health has been on a transformational journey to modernise and streamline its technology systems. The NSW Ministry of Health has a role of ‘system manager’ to the NSW public health system. More than 228 hospitals across New South Wales, faced fragmented data, inefficiencies in patient flow and care coordination, thus requiring a platform where data from numerous sources could be curated and consolidated in real time.
Creating a state-wide Operational Data Store (ODS) supported a platform that provides visibility across a patient’s journey in an environment with multiple Patient Administration Systems and electronic medical records. This ODS was made viable by transitioning NSW Health’s legacy infrastructure to Microsoft Azure, allowing the department to leverage the scalability, security and advanced analytics capabilities offered by the cloud.
“The shift to the cloud has been crucial in addressing key pain points, including enhanced resource allocation, improved patient care coordination and a reduction in the reliance on manual, paper-based processes,” said Pedram Bidhendi, Director of System Performance Support at NSW Health.
Today, the ODS serves as a real-time operational and analytics platform. The store integrates data from numerous sources across the health system to support a seamless flow of information. By realising its ODS vision and working with Microsoft technologies, NSW Health has modernised its operations and set the stage for ongoing innovation in healthcare delivery. This progress will ensure better outcomes for patients across the state.
The latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report shows NSW is the best performing jurisdiction for emergency department patients seen on time (74%) and patients receiving planned surgery within clinically recommended timeframes (85.3%). NSW continues to deliver safe, high-quality care.
Optimising resource management
The ODS plays a critical role in how NSW Health manages its vast network of hospitals and healthcare facilities. By centralising data from over 34 different systems, the ODS has significantly improved resource management across the state. One of the most practical applications of this technology is for patient demand planning and resource allocation.
With the integration of real-time data into the ODS, these processes have been transformed. NSW Health staff can now access up-to-date information on bed availability, patient discharges and resource needs through a unified platform. This has not only streamlined the process of patient admissions and discharges, but also enabled healthcare workers to anticipate and plan for demand more effectively.
For instance, the Patient Flow Portal, a key feature of the ODS, gives nurses, allied health teams, patient flow managers and hospital executives a clear, consolidated view of resources, allowing them to make informed decisions quickly and efficiently. This has resulted in more effective resource utilisation, reduced bottlenecks and improved patient care across the health system.
Enhancing patient care coordination
Beyond resource management, the ODS has played a transformative role in enhancing patient care coordination across NSW Health’s extensive network.
Central to this improvement is the Patient Flow Portal, which integrates seamlessly with various Microsoft technologies, including Power BI. This portal provides healthcare teams with a comprehensive view of patient journeys, from admission to discharge, enabling better coordination and continuity with care.
A key benefit has been automating patient status updates and task management. For example, the portal allows the nurses and managers responsible for patient flow to monitor real-time updates on patients’ status, removing the need to navigate multiple systems.
This integration has streamlined communication between different departments, reducing the reliance on time-consuming manual processes like phone calls and paperwork. As a result, healthcare workers can respond more quickly to patients’ needs and adjust care plans on the fly, ensuring that patients receive the most appropriate care at every stage of their journey. The transparency and efficiency brought by these tools have not only improved patient outcomes but have also alleviated the administrative burden on healthcare staff, allowing them to focus more on direct patient care.
“As a nurse who supports the use of ODS Systems by clinical and administrative teams across the state, I’ve seen firsthand how the Patient Flow Portal has transformed our ability to manage patient care,” says Richard Yarlett, Senior Systems Support Specialist, NSW Health. “The portal empowers our nurses and managers by giving them real-time access to critical information, which not only improves decision-making but also allows us to provide better, more coordinated care to our patients.”
Transforming healthcare with data-driven innovation
Introducing the ODS has transformed operations within NSW Health, set a benchmark for the broader healthcare industry and demonstrated the role technology can play in
enhancing healthcare delivery at scale. The ODS’s success has sparked interest from other healthcare organisations, both within Australia and internationally, looking to replicate its model to achieve similar efficiencies and improvements in patient care. In addition to supporting health system performance, the ODS has further been leveraged as the underlying data asset for Public Health Rapid, Emergency, Disease and Syndromic Surveillance including playing a key role in the COVID-19 pandemic response as well as supporting Finance Teams with real time management of own source revenue specific to patient fees and digitising the billing process.
Looking ahead, NSW Health has ambitious plans to further enhance the ODS and expand its capabilities. One of the most anticipated projects is called the New Gen Matrix, which aims to revolutionise patient transport decisions by using advanced analytics and machine learning models. This project will enable paramedics to make better-informed decisions on where to take patients, considering the patient’s condition, real-time data on hospital capacities and available community care options. Additionally, NSW Health is integrating the ODS with emerging technologies, such as Azure Machine Learning and leveraging Epic’s integration capabilities, to further refine patient care and operational efficiency.
As NSW Health continues to innovate, the ODS will remain a foundational element, providing the data-driven insights needed to meet the evolving demands of modern healthcare.
“The success of the ODS underscores the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technology in building resilient, responsive healthcare systems – it’s the way to adapt to future challenges and improve outcomes for patients across New South Wales,” said Simon Kos, Chief Medical Officer, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand.
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