WA Health recognises the challenges and opportunities of commissioning an Electronic Medical Record (EMR).

This Request for Information (RFI) will provide an enhanced understanding of the:

• Digital capability of a proposed Community EMR functionality;
• Financial investment needed; and
• Risks that will need to be mitigated and information required by industry as part of a future procurement process(es) for a Community Care EMR.

In 2019, WA Health issued a RFI to understand the market environment for EMR systems with a view for informing early planning and future business decisions regarding the feasibility and potential options for implementing a contemporary EMR within WA Health.

Information from the 2019 RFI assisted the planning and establishment of the EMR Program in 2020; an important investment into planning for a modern, digital platform that prioritises safety, improve health care outcomes and setting a foundation for future digital growth and clinical innovation within WA Health.

Alongside hospital care, WA Health also delivers health care in the community (such as child health centres, parent and child centres and schools) and in the home. All these points of care with clients require WA Health staff to have access to the client/patient health records to connect people and information to ensure better health.

Therefore, further information is required from Industry in regard to an EMR Community Care system, either as a standalone system or part of a larger EMR system to lay the digital foundations for modernising health care.

The objective of this RFI is to extend and refresh the market research and analysis to understand market environment for a community care EMR solution. In particular, the ability to provide access to up-to-date personal and clinical information for WA Health staff, clients and their caregivers in their home, and at community health sites such as schools, child health, child development and parent and child centres.

In the event that the Department of Health or Health Services Providers proceed with a procurement process for a Community EMR Solution after this RFI, the procurement will be undertaken in accordance with Western Australian Procurement Rules.

In the event of a procurement process, Respondents will not be advantaged or disadvantaged on the basis they did or did not respond to this RFI process.