The state of Washington is investing $100 million in the implementation of electronic medical records

The Western Australian government has committed to investing almost $100 million to complete the first stage of the rollout of an electronic medical record (EMR) across the state’s hospitals. The EMR will enable real-time sharing of patient information and analytics to support clinical decision-making, patient flow, and new virtual models of care. This investment is part of a $1.2 billion funding package that aims to enhance public hospital capacity and upgrade digital infrastructure and systems, which will be announced in next week’s state budget. The initial phase of the EMR includes implementing a digital medical record with single sign-on technology and virtual desktop infrastructure at all public hospitals in WA, as well as delivering an EMR with full functionality in intensive care units at the Perth Children’s Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. The government has stated that EMRs can reduce preventable patient deaths, boost staff productivity and retention, and improve patient flow through emergency departments. A statewide EMR is a critical component of the state’s 10-year digital strategy, which was launched in 2019 but had not received significant funding to proceed until now.