CEO of Sydney LHD to lead implementation authority for $1 billion Single Digital Patient Record

Sydney Local Health District CEO Teresa Anderson has left the somewhat conflict-torn organization long-term and has been appointed head of a recently announced Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) implementation authority, which will oversee the rollout of the $1 billion Epic EMR. for all of NSW.

Dr. Anderson led the inner city LHD, including one of Australia’s largest and busiest teaching hospitals, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown, as well as Concord Hospital, Canterbury and Balmain hospitals, and the pioneering RPA Virtual Hospital, for 13 years.

She has now been appointed to lead the new SDPR Implementation Authority, working with eHealth NSW to roll out the country’s largest electronic health record system to more than eight million people.

The SDPR will replace several EMR systems, including the widely used Oracle Health (Cerner) EMR, as well as several patient administration systems and three laboratory information systems for NSW Health Pathology, with a single system from US supplier Epic.

Hunter New England LHD and the HNE-based laboratories in the NSW Health Pathology North Network are expected to be the first to go live with SDPR in 2026, followed by the Justice and Forensic Mental Health Network. Both HNE LHD and JFMHN currently use Orion Health systems, which will be replaced.

According to eHealth NSW, this will be followed in the second tranche by Northern NSW LHD and Mid North Coast LHD, followed by Northern Sydney LHD and Central Coast LHD. The statewide rollout is expected to be completed by 2029/30.

NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce said Dr Anderson was “ideally placed to lead the implementation of a world-class, secure digital platform that meets the needs of our doctors, patients and carers”.

“She has a long and impressive record of success in delivering public health services and the Sydney Local Health District has long been recognized for its excellent overall performance and clinical technology innovation agenda,” Ms Pearce said in a statement .

“This was never more apparent than during the COVID-19 pandemic when Dr. Anderson and the Sydney Local Health District, in partnership with the Department of Health, established and operated the state’s first mass vaccination centre, operated the dedicated health facility and provided screening services for Sydney Airport, and more.

In the statement, Dr Anderson said the SDPR “means that no matter which public NSW hospital a patient is in, their care teams will have access to their full clinical information in real time”.

“This will make it faster and easier for NSW Health teams to access the information they need to make important decisions about a patient’s care,” she said. “It will also support better continuity of care and reduce administrative burdens for physicians.”

NSW Health says Dr. Anderson will begin her new role from May 27, 2024, and Graeme Loy, CEO of Western Sydney Local Health District, will act in her place while a recruitment process is conducted.

Dr. Anderson has been under pressure in the past year, including a rebellion by doctors at Concord Hospital, who passed a vote of no confidence against her in 2023.