Ramping round table spurs info sharing pilot program
The state government has committed to improving information sharing across the state’s health system following an Australian Medical Association SA round table.
Health Minister Chris Picton has committed to establish a pilot program to allow real-time information sharing between GPs and aged care facilities at an Australian Medical Association-hosted round table on the healthcare system.
Held on Friday, the round table saw healthcare leaders such as AMA SA president Dr John Williams, Picton and AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen come together to discuss underlying problems that compromise patient care and add to the burden on hospitals.
It also included representatives from the public and private hospital sectors, general practice, aged care, mental healthcare and the South Australian Ambulance Service.
Dr Williams said the SA Access to Care Round Table was “already triggering action that will improve patient care”.
“Healthcare for older people is getting more complex. Australians are living longer – which is positive – but managing the complex, chronic conditions of Australia’s ageing population places additional pressures on health professionals and the system as a whole,” he said.
“GPs are the first line of defence for all patients. Ensuring they have real-time information about their elderly patients will lead to better outcomes for patients and reduce the burden on hospitals.
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“This is the type of reform South Australia needs to ensure patients receive the comprehensive, connected healthcare they deserve. We look forward to more information about how the South Australian Government’s pilot program will work.”
AMA SA president John Williams delivers his closing address at the round table. Photo: Supplied
Picton said South Australian doctors had “clearly told us how important improving communication between hospitals and GPs is”.
“That’s why we will be piloting a new program to improve patient data and information sharing between our hospitals, GPs, and aged-care facilities,” he said.
Other solutions proposed by attendees included:
- technological solutions to improve communication between different parts of the system, including systems to notify GPs when their patients’ condition is deteriorating.
- streamlining patient referrals and transfers
- funding to support more out-of-hours GP care
- funding to enable more nurses and allied health professionals to work in
- general practice
- promote the use of and store Advanced Care Directives to avoid unnecessary transfers of patients from the community to hospitals.
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“We launched this round table on behalf of South Australian patients and the doctors who treat them. It was a day of big conversations and big ideas,” Dr Williams said.
It comes as the state government released the latest ambulance ramping data for April.
Ramping improved last month to 3700 hours – a 10.5 per cent decrease on March 2025 and 33 per cent down from July last year.
Picton said the government’s out-of-hospital health service at the Pullman hotel at Hindmarsh Square had assisted 80 patients since launching earlier this year.
The Transition Care Service opened just over two months ago and has seen 55 patients discharged.
The Health Minister said the update comes as more than 260 elderly patients are stuck in hospital awaiting a Federal aged care placement, more than double the number a year ago.
“In just the first 10 weeks, we’ve seen how successful a service like this one can be in shifting patients out of hospital who no longer need to be there. It’s better for the patient and the health system,” he said.
“Eighty patients have used this service in just over two months. That’s 80 hospital beds in metropolitan Adelaide freed up for patients who needed hospital-level care.
“We’ve seen a record 280 older South Australians who are medically ready to leave hospital but are stuck there because they’re waiting for a Federal aged care bed. That’s the equivalent of more than the entire Modbury Hospital taken out of the system.”
