The first stage of the NT Government’s $259 million patient health record system has been rolled out five years after it was first announced, that will replace the current six clinical IT systems with a single service across the entire public health system.

The patient health record system is called “Acacia”, based upon InterSystems’ “TrakCareÒ” system. It is now being used at the Katherine Hospital, the government said in a release.

“Despite the impacts of the COVID pandemic, we are now seeing the results of everyone’s hard work and our long-term collaboration with NT Health and the Department of Corporate and Digital Development,” InterSystems country manager for Australia and New Zealand Darren Jones said.

Piloting the software at Katherine Hospital is the first step on the road to full implementation that replaces six legacy clinical systems, and integrates a dozen more into a single digital network. It will also see 20 years worth of patient data from multiple systems being migrated to Acacia.

“Having a Territory-wide electronic patient record system will allow NT Health to better support our transient and most vulnerable Territorians,” Chief Minister and Health Minister Natasha Fyles said.

Ms Fyles said the new system ensures the health system will be modern and enable it to provide the best possible patient care.

She said InterSystems is supporting IT internships at Charles Darwin University (CDU) through the project cycle and that the project, first announced in 2017, has delivered “more than 100 jobs during its implementation.

A Territory-wide electronic patient record system allows continuing and consistent care including transient and the more vulnerable Territorians residing in remote communities, the government said.

The system also enables medical professionals to access information quickly on patient allergies, alerts and medications making treatment decisions quicker and with less risk.

The new system is being rolled-out in phases to lessen the impact on frontline Territory health workers, the government said.

The project was first announced in June 2107, with the government making no further announcements about the massive $259 million project until this week. The government said it has come in on budget and on time.