{"id":210848,"date":"2018-06-08T19:59:59","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T09:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=210848"},"modified":"2020-08-03T15:41:13","modified_gmt":"2020-08-03T05:41:13","slug":"mp-disappointed-over-digital-hospital-omission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/06\/08\/mp-disappointed-over-digital-hospital-omission\/","title":{"rendered":"MP ‘Disappointed’ Over
Digital Hospital Omission"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Demolition work is well under way on the site for the new Kingaroy Hospital<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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LNP Opposition Leader
Deb Frecklington<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 8, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has requested a briefing with the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) over Kingaroy Hospital not being included in the State Government’s “digital hospitals” program.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, Health Minister Dr Steven Miles announced the government will expand the number of digital hospitals from eight to 27 by 2020.<\/p>\n

The hospitals use advanced technology to allow clinicians to monitor a patient\u2019s vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature and heart rate in real time.<\/p>\n

Medical staff can also access electronic medical records in real time by scanning a barcode on the patient\u2019s identity wristband with a handheld device.<\/p>\n

Dr Miles said these tools were showing remarkable improvements in patient outcomes.<\/p>\n

Early results from five of the State’s digital hospitals had shown an 88 per cent reduction in pressure injuries, and a 37 per cent reduction in hospital-acquired infections.<\/p>\n

Dr Miles said that by 2020, 80 per cent of patients receiving public health care in Queensland would be treated in a digital hospital.<\/p>\n

However, Mrs Frecklington is not impressed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It is very disappointing to learn that Kingaroy Hospital is not on the list to be included in the Digital Hospital rollout,\u201d Mrs Frecklington said on Friday.<\/p>\n

“Common sense would indicate that including digital technologies at the same time as the hospital undergoes a $62 million refurbishment would be the way to go.<\/p>\n

“However, once again Kingaroy will miss out.”<\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington said she would seek information from the DDHHS to get a better understanding of the services that would be included in the new hospital.<\/p>\n

“This will certainly be on my long list of questions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n