Electronic follow-up reporting system shortcomings contributed to delayed treatment

Counties Manukau DHB’s electronic follow-up reporting system has been criticised by the Health and Disability Commissioner in a report into the delayed ophthalmology treatment of a young girl.

CMDHB told the HDC that during the period related to this case, the ophthalmology service used an electronic follow-up reporting system to capture overdue appointments.

CMDHB said that most other clinics within the DHB were able to complete an electronic chart review to assess the urgency of booking follow-up appointments. However, in ophthalmology, there were so many overdue follow-up appointments that all had the same clinical priority and it became extremely difficult to manage.

The Commission’s findings included that that the DHB failed to arrange a timely follow-up appointment in line with appropriate clinical timeframes and did not have an adequate prioritisation system for overdue follow-up specialist appointments. This meant there were missed opportunities to identify and remedy the ongoing delay in the girl being seen for specialist follow-up.

Among its recommendations, the HDC has required a report on an investigation into the iPM system shortcomings identified by this case.

HDC commissioner Anthony Hill called on the Ministry of Health as well as DHBs to plan better for the introduction of new technologies so further patients do not fall through the cracks.

 “As I said in a recent case, I consider that the Ministry of Health has a role, with DHBs, to recognise the effect of the introduction of such new technologies and associated pressures on the system, and plan accordingly.

“However, the existence of systemic pressures does not remove provider accountability in addressing such issues. A key improvement that all DHBs and the Ministry of Health must make, now and in the future, is to assess, plan, adapt, and respond effectively to the foreseeable effects that new technologies and population change will have on systems and demand.”

Source: Health and Disability Commissioner report, Case 16HDC01912, 20 June 2018

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