NSW Digital Patient Record to improve health care
Photo of a digital tablet with Medical Record on the screen. You can see the hands of the person who is holding the tablet.
New South Wales Single Digital Patient Record includes key features to improve health care for people with intellectual disability


The National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health (the Centre) and the Council for Intellectual Disability (CID) welcome the New South Wales Government’s inclusion of key features to improve health care for people with disability in the first roll-out of the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR).

People with intellectual disability have some of the poorest health outcomes of any population group. On average, they die about 27 years earlier than other people. This is linked to higher rates of chronic disease and mental illness, and to barriers in getting safe, timely and appropriate health care. Better hospital care, including reasonable adjustments, can help address this gap.

The SDPR is an electronic medical record system. It gives clinicians secure access to important patient information, such as test results, appointments and treatment history, in one place. This supports better continuity of care and a better patient experience.

The SDPR is now live in Hunter New England Local Health District, Justice Health NSW and NSW Health Pathology's Hunter New England sites.

The SDPR includes two key features that can improve health care for people with intellectual disability:

  • A disability identifier. This will show clinicians that a patient has a disability and identify the type of disability. It will help clinicians provide more appropriate care from the start. It will also help planners and policy makers use data to better understand and improve the experiences and outcomes of people with disability in the health system.
     
  • The ability to upload documents about reasonable adjustments. These documents can set out the supports a person needs in hospital or other health settings. Examples include Easy Read resources, quiet spaces, longer appointments and behavioural supports. Tailored reasonable adjustments are essential for safe, high-quality care and for supporting the right of people with disability to the highest attainable standard of health.

These features will require patient consent. We expect most patients will consent when they understand how these tools can support better care. NSW Health and the Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority (SDPRIA) should be congratulated for working with the Centre and CID to develop these features. Their inclusion in the first roll-out is an important step. The features can be refined and strengthened over time.

The Centre and CID look forward to continuing to work with NSW Health and SDPRIA to improve health care for people with intellectual disability in NSW hospitals and health settings.