Delivering HealthSmart Report - VAGO

Achievement against the approved program plan
Delivery of the clinical systems, which is central to obtaining the original forecast
benefits of the HealthSMART strategy, is already two years behind the original
schedule, with no firm implementation dates for six of the ten agency implementation
slots.
According to the original 2003 timelines approved by Government, major acute
hospitals in ten health agencies should all be using clinical systems now.
There have been no approvals of further extensions to the program beyond June 2009.
OHIS management advised that while June 2009 is defined as the milestone
completion date, it is not a realistic completion date, as they foresee that the
implementation of clinical systems (and potentially PCMS) will extend beyond that
date.
Conclusion
The original targets for the program have proven to be too ambitious which has
required OHIS to revise milestones as the program proceeds.
Our analysis indicates that the program will not be finalised by its revised completion
date of June 2009, although DHS continues to report to government that it will.
The implementation most at risk is Clinical Systems. DHS needs to clearly identify the
total number of agencies implementing the clinical systems project and devise a
realistic schedule, with adequate contingency to successfully implement the program.
Failure to implement clinical systems is a serious issue for DHS and the health sector
in terms of delivering the expected outputs and benefits of the HealthSMART program.
Recommendation
3.1 DHS should identify the agencies expected to implement clinical systems and
devise a realistic schedule, with adequate contingency, to successfully implement
the program.
3.3 Performance against the approved budget
In May 2003 the government approved a total HealthSMART budget of $323 million. In
June 2006 OHIS (after Board endorsement) reduced the budget to $310 million.
Figure 3D summarises the amounts that DHS advised it expects to spend on each
project component, and the amount spent, as at December 2007.
Delivering HealthSMART — Victoria's whole-of-health ICT strategy 27