The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has taken the decision to outsource the development and implementation of its upcoming corporate IT strategy. ADHA, which oversees digital health services like My Health Record and electronic prescribing, recently reached out to external companies to undertake an in-depth assessment of its ICT environment. The objective is to establish a comprehensive corporate IT and digital strategy, along with a well-structured IT roadmap for the next three to four years.
By outsourcing this aspect of its operations, ADHA aims to optimize its valuable in-house resources, allowing them to remain focused on delivering critical government priorities. The agency clarified that this move is a short-term endeavor aimed at revamping and enhancing its internal corporate IT framework.
According to an agency spokesperson, the outsourcing approach will introduce specialized expertise and innovative concepts in advanced corporate IT design and internal technology systems. While the external company will lead and support the execution of the agreed-upon actions, the agency itself will remain at the forefront of the process.
The forthcoming IT strategy and roadmap are expected to trigger advancements in the agency’s collaboration systems, devices to accommodate hybrid work models, and data storage capabilities. These areas have been specifically identified as requiring improvement.
Furthermore, ADHA plans to consolidate several business systems and maximize the use of Dynamics 365, a CRM system that was introduced through a Microsoft partnership in 2021. The spokesperson emphasized that this strategic overhaul, combined with a clear vision for future internal IT systems, will empower the agency’s staff to effectively address the digital health priorities of the government both now and in the foreseeable future.
