About Health-e-Directory

Following on from the Australian Health ICT Capability Directory 2005, CHIK Services Pty Ltd (CHIK) has developed the Health-e-Directory service – a combined online and in print Directory promoting the capability of Australian e-Health product and service providers within Australia and overseas.

The online Directory is supplemented by an annual print publication that is circulated widely and free of charge to key stakeholders in the Australian health industry and overseas, via Austrade and CHIK.
 
CHIK gratefully acknowledges assistance received from Austrade, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Medicare Australia and the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs that has helped to fund the Health-e-Directory online infrastructure.

The Health-e-Directory will be a key reference source for influencers and purchasers of health ICT products and services in all health settings.  It also demonstrates the breadth and depth of Australia’s e-Health product and service capability to potential business partners and investors.

The Health-e-Directory service has been endorsed by government, industry and professional associations, includes product and service providers in all health settings and will be freely accessible and extensively promoted within Australia and overseas. A mixture of paid and free listings are incorporated.

About CHIK Services

CHIK Services Pty Ltd (CHIK) is a privately owned not-for-profit company established to provide global communication and specialist research services bridging the Health, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors.

Uniquely positioned as an informed, independent hub within the Health ICT sector, CHIK leverages its established skills, industry knowledge, resources and infrastructure to foster and promote the capability of Australian-based companies within Australia and overseas.

Much of CHIK’s strength lies in its independence, its knowledge and its extensive relationships and broad network of contacts that span the public and private sector within Australia and abroad.

In delivering services, CHIK regularly communicates with over 12,000 companies, institutions and individuals within Australia and overseas. Included within this group are representatives from Australian and State/Territory Government agencies covering Health, ICT and Industry Development, public and private hospitals, community and aged care providers, leading industry suppliers and associations, many SMEs, plus academics and researchers.

Soon after its establishment, CHIK convened an Advisory Panel to consider strategic and philosophical “big picture” issues relevant to the delivery of health services and to identify practical methods by which the health ICT industry can assist in achieving key healthcare delivery goals. Members attend in their own right, not as representatives of their respective organisations, and play no part in commercial or managerial aspects of CHIK Services.

CHIK has recently attained Endorsed Supplier status and is included on the Government Communications Unit’s register of consultants.

Other services provided by CHIK

Newsletter Services:

CHIK’s Health ICT e-newsletter services act as a key communication tool for the Australian Health ICT sector providing a synopsis of the latest Health ICT industry news, trends, events and business opportunities (tenders and grant programs). The service is provided to around 12,000 people each fortnight.

Research Services (commissioned and independent):

CHIK Services (CHIK) provides specialist research services for the Health ICT sector. Our professional team has extensive knowledge of the health ICT sector and provides research and information services tailored to meet the specific requirements of health/ICT professionals, health and government organisations, and ICT companies.

CHIK’s commissioned research specifically advises on:

• Current health ICT issues, trends and new technologies;
• Health ICT market trends and opportunities in Australia or overseas; and
• ICT products/services identification or evaluation.

Recent commissioned research and consultancy projects that CHIK has completed include:

• An international study of health ICT centres of excellence;
• A review of international electronic health record (EHR) activities and projects;
• A compilation of individual profiles on Australian health stakeholder organisations;
• Identification and review of the Australian GP desktop software market;
• A review of overseas PKI projects in the health sector;
• A review of overseas Smart card projects in health and more broadly;
• Identification and review of community care information systems;
• Study of clinical information systems for aged care homes;
• A profile of the New Zealand health ICT market;
• A market report on the Australian health sector; and
• Survey of health IT trends in the Australian acute health care sector.
• Analysis of private hospital and general practice markets in Australia and New Zealand
• Analysis of drivers for paperless medical practices

Recent independent (syndicated) research undertaken by CHIK includes a study of Australian health ICT trends and issues in the public and private acute care (hospital) sectors from 2003 - 2005. In line with CHIK’s market driven approach, the research was undertaken on a syndicated basis and it would not have happened without the support of the research syndicate members and survey respondents.

Plans to refresh the acute care study are in train for 2006. CHIK is also scoping independent research of:

• Australian Health ICT capability (focusing on Health ICT companies). This will be carried out in conjunction with the development of a web-based Australian Health ICT Capability Directory during 2005.
• General Practice and Specialist use of ICT.
• Retail Pharmaceutical use of ICT.

Events:

CHIK promotes the education and training of the healthcare industry and the public about the use of information technology to achieve better health outcomes through the promotion and organisation of education and training events or programs.

CHIK Services’ Health-e-Nation conference
CHIK hosts the annual Health-e-Nation Conference and Exhibition that brings together key International and Australian executives, clinicians and decision makers to explore the role of information and communication technology as enablers of health service reform.

CHIK Services’ Australian Delegations
CHIK has hosted Australian delegations to HIMSS 2003, 2004 and 2005 in the US (where CHIK is an invited CoSponsor) and to Healthcare Computing 2005 in the UK. In 2006 CHIK will be hosting delegations to HIMSS 2006 in San Diego and to international events (currently being developed) in Europe and Asia Pacific (see below).

HIMSS / CHIK Asia Pacific Health ICT events
CHIK has recently signed an MOU with the Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS) to jointly host annual Health ICT conferences in the Asia Pacific region. It is expected that the first of these will be held in November 2006 in Hong Kong or Singapore. Publicity regarding the MOU and the events commenced in November 2005.