Qld Health buries TrakHealth suit

in brief Queensland Health has settled its long-running lawsuit with e-health vendor TrakHealth and its parent InterSystems.

TrakHealth dragged Queensland Health into the state's Supreme Court in December 2005 after the department terminated a contract with the vendor for the implementation of the department's Clinical Information System project and related software. The e-health vendor claimed it was owed damages.

However, Queensland filed a counter-claim against the e-health vendor as well as InterSystems and its CEO Terry Ragon.

"The parties have now agreed [to] a settlement which resolves all matters in issue between them, including all claims and counter-claims in the proceedings, to their mutual satisfaction," a statement issued by TrakHealth this morning said without providing further details.

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Hope this cost Health Anonymous -- 14/04/09

Despite the money coming out of the taxpers wallet, i really hope Health paid for this one.

I've never met a more arrogant organisation when it comes to contractual obligations. There seems to be a pervading attitude of "we are QLd Health, good luck with the lawyers". I've been on the receiving end of this myself, where Health basically consider that they can terminate or change the terms of any contract, and that they are too big to sue.

The other issue is that if you do decide to go legal, say goodbye to any GITC contract in any other agency in Qld.

These cowboys in Qld Health IT continue to **** money up the wall while providing crap service, and riding roughshod over their suppliers. It's about time they were made to pay.

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Totally agree QH -- 14/04/09 (in reply to #320129636)

I totally agree with what is being said above. QH burn money like it is going out of fashion on ICT and have absolutely nothing to show for it. I have heard through the grapevine that $370 million has now been allocated to achieving their next round of e-health strategy, $270 million has been spent to date and there is absolutely nothing to show for it.

I agree that QH think that they are above everyone else at all levels. In terms of contract, they think they can end any type of contract without notice and with no reason. This goes for IT contracts, employment contracts and the rest. If you want a laugh, have a look at the $$ they have just spent paying out all the CEO contracts as part of the last restructure. It was in the millions also...

I just wish the general public were made more aware of this. There is absolutely no corporate governance in Queensland Health and therefore tax payers money continues to be wasted...and no one holds them to account

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Qld Health Anonymous -- 14/04/09 (in reply to #320129690)

I agree also but not only do they spend money and go over budget at a cost to the taxpayers they treat their staff badly. Unions fight constantly for Qld Health to consult and be fair to their employees especially their administrative staff. This often falls on deaf ears. Staff are asked to cut budgets and go without resources which affects the average person wanted health care. It is time the public and staff within Qld Health stand up and say enough is enough. They are bullies and nothing more.

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Tips Renai LeMay -- 14/04/09 (in reply to #320129695)

hey guys,

if you have any proof of these allegations you can submit it anonymously through our tips page:

http://www.zdnet.com.au/services/tips/

Just saying ;)

Cheers,

Renai LeMay
News Editor
ZDNet.com.au

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Concerned clinican Concerned clinican -- 14/04/09

I will add my two bobs as a concerned clinician at Redlands Hospital. Logan Hospital has had an Electronic Medical Record for almost 10 years now which, despite bumps along the road, I am told works really well and supports clinical care tremendously at Logan. The previous Southside Health Service District CEO had a vision and pushed for the roll out of the electronic medical record to Redlands Hospital. This was very much supported by the clicnians and there was IT support for it. Then Queensland Health restructured, got rid of the old CEO and put in a new CEO who has said that the system roll out cannot progress. This is despte the fact that actually putting the system in will improve patient care, save money into the long term, and was supported by the hospital. He literally shut the project down less than 4 months from the date it was supposed to start and I am of the belief that more than 90% of the money had already been spent! Now we are told we won't be getting the system because there is no money!! What I don't understand is how 'no money' is allowed to be an excuse when the money had already been spent? All the IT was in, the project team was working towards a plan and everyone was expecting the change?

I want to ask Queensland Health to explain why such a system, that is proven to benefit patients is now going to be stopped and shut down and how their e-health proejct allows it! I think it is a deliberate attempt to sabotage so they can state that they still need to spend tax payers money on employing people to look at e-health. I want to know why the system at Logan cannot be rolled out further as it meets the clinicians needs? Why doesn't the government ask the new CEO to explain? Instead they leave him to make decisions on his own when he clearly cannot make financially wise ones.

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response Anonymous -- 16/04/09 (in reply to #320129718)

In response to the concerned clinician. Generally, new functionality with statewide potential is incrementally offered. If a site does not wish to adopt it, they generally do not have to. A good project will achieve some wins with enthusiastic sites, and that success may encourage remaining sites to take another look.

eHealth is a large, complex concept that, admittedly, has failed in various degrees across the world. Potential does remain to improve information flow thereby assisting health care providers to work with accurate, timely information. eHealth requires commonality to be achieved, and adoption of far reaching standards. This may help explain why your site's functionality was shut down. Perhaps a more ideal time to have done so, would have been when a solution with at least equivalent functionality was ready to take its place. Don't know the facts so can't comment further. These thoughts are my own and do not represent QH.

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Response.. Anonymous -- 21/04/09 (in reply to #320129983)

I love the constant blame towards QLD Health as a whole, and the QLD Health employees who do this, when in reality, alot of the staff complaining should be taking a long hard look in the mirror at themselves and realising they are contributing to the problem.

Also, in terms of electronic health records and all information systems in health, its so easy for someone to push their agenda and clame a new system is the be all and end all, and what's even worse about this, is the quantity of high payed executives, directors, CEO's who just take what is presented to them as gospel and run with it. I take my hat off to people in leadership roles who dont just say yes, and factor in change and the costs involved with that change, you would think people (once again not all!) in such high level positions would have an understanding of change management principles when there grossing 100k minimum a year.

The proof is there with failed project after failed system after failed contractual agreements.

Corporate office is probably the worst of the bunch, there have been some excellent projects and teams in corporate, but as a whole too many people/teams etc push state wide initiatives without proper understanding and consultation with business area's, and this is one of the biggest reasons QLD Health is so slow in progressing into the electronic record era.

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