In partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Monash Health is launching its Test Tracker trial tomorrow as part of the statewide strategy to reduce COVID-19 transmissions.
Clinicians at Casey Fields will be the first Monash Health employees to trial the QR code-based technology, which supports the real-time collection of detailed COVID-19 data.
How does it work?
When a patient attends the drive-through site to be tested, the administration team will scan a QR code and record information about the patient into the system using an iPad, rather than recording any information by paper and pen.
The data recorded at registration will include identifiers and details about the patient’s living arrangements, symptoms, recent movements, language spoken and employment details. This means that if the case is positive, DHHS have enough information available to them to prioritise contact tracing and ensure a timely and effective response.
DHHS will be able to follow the journey of the swab and result from the time the QR code is activated. This will help them to identify emerging trends.
Once the patient has been registered and swabbed, they will receive a text message from DHHS providing current information about what to do while waiting for their results. This helps people clearly understand their responsibilities when waiting for a result.
What’s next?
In partnership with DHHS, we will evaluate how the trial is working in the coming weeks before potentially introducing the technology to other testing sites.
More information, including resources for employees, will be available under the Digital Health section of the Monash Health COVID-19 employee website.
Approved by Emilio Pozo, Executive Director, Digital Health