The Point to Point Service provides enhanced clinical communication through standardised electronic clinical messaging between all health providers in the Northern Territory, including the public and private sectors and including specialist and general medical practitioners, allied health professionals, pharmacists, pathology and diagnostic imaging companies. The service supports integrated models of care supported through comprehensive referral management, diagnostic imaging results reporting, electronic transfer of prescriptions and transmission to the HealthConnect NT Shared Electronic Health Record.
The Point to Point Service is part of a national change management strategy to improve safety and quality in health care by establishing and maintaining a range of standardised electronic health information products and services for health care providers and consumers. Many IT projects fail in their implementation particularly in health, and the point to point service demonstrates some practical techniques which have ensured its success with clinicians.