Clutha Health First’s (CHF) general practice will be closed on Wednesday to allow an upgrade to its patient information system to take place.
CHF chief executive Sharon Mason said the $30,000 upgrade to the Medtech Evolution system, managing patient medical records and appointments, necessitated a midweek closure of the GP service.
Acute medical care would remain available.
The temporary shutdown of electronic data systems meant a return to pen and paper, and a chance to test back-up protocols, Mrs Mason said.
"The computer downtime allows us to test our downtime systems and check they’re fit for purpose. Under extreme circumstances we may experience a shutdown of our normal IT systems, and we need to be confident the good old pen and paper works as back up."
Although, typically, organisations implemented software upgrades during weekends to avoid disruption, weekends were among the facility’s busier times for more serious cases, Mrs Mason said.
"We see more acute patients at weekends, and the impact of inaccessibility of patient information to acute care is much more significant, so a weekday is better in terms of overall patient welfare."
Patients had been alerted to the closure, and emergency measures were in place, she said.
"We’re keen to ensure no-one is disadvantaged by the measures, so urgent care will still be available, and non-urgent cases continue to have access to our telehealth service."
The upgrade would enable faster, more efficient service for clinicians, combining data into a single screen, from multiple screens at present.
"It should help improve efficiency and patient flow and, longer term, will provide additional online functionality for our community in terms of enrolment and checking in."
The practice would reopen on a limited basis at 9am, Thursday, then return to full service on Monday, July 10.
