Updates in digital shared care: Launching into the 21st century

The recent Intergenerational Report (2023) highlighted that the Australian healthcare system will face increasing economic and logistical challenges, with projected growth in health spending due to an ageing population and an increasing number of chronic diseases. Shared care, a model emphasising collaboration between nursing and allied health, general practice and specialist care providers, has emerged as one solution.

This paper explores the contemporary shared care landscape in Australia, highlighting the digital transformation of healthcare, the adoption of eHealth technologies, and their impact on improving patient care coordination.

The roles of shared electronic health records, secure electronic communication and consultation, electronic patient portals and telehealth in enhancing healthcare accessibility and management of chronic diseases are individually explored. Infrastructure for future inter-electronic medical record integrations are then discussed. Innovative care models combining novel technology and shared care hold promise for more efficient, patient‑centric healthcare systems. Given Australia's unique healthcare challenges, it provides the ideal environment to lead the way in the digital transformation of shared care.