Funding boost for health service technology

BELLARINE Community Health has received almost $90,000 through the state government’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund for security upgrades at Portarlington.

Western Victoria MP Gayle Tierney announced BCH had been successful with its RHIF round five application for a range of security measures and related information technology at the BCH Portarlington site to enhance safety, security and emergency preparedness of BCH staff, clients, and community members.

“Everyone deserves access to quality health care facilities and services – we’re ensuing the local community has exactly that close to home,” Ms Tierney said.

BCH chief executive officer Garry Ellis said the much-needed safety and IT improvements would “allow for a greater level of safety and accessibility for our staff, clients and the community”.

The work will be part of the Portarlington Community Health Centre redevelopment which received $2 million in federal government in 2019.

The $88,233 will go towards the technology upgrade which will include the extension of existing CCTV through the replacement of cameras no longer operating and adding in new cameras where required.

An extension of the nurse call system will allow clients, community members and staff, who are under duress, to raise an alarm and call for help from designated responders within the building.

New IT equipment will be installed to support new and enhanced security systems with digital recorders and wireless access points throughout the building.

Users will be able to set up computers, smart televisions, and other audio-visual equipment in various locations for a range of individual and group based therapeutic and activity-based applications.

Teleconferencing equipment will allow BCH clients to connect with specialists in metropolitan or other regional locations, as well as connecting staff into meetings from a variety of locations.

A new PA and evacuation system will allow BCH to provide an orderly and coordinated response to an emergency, while the installation of an Access Control will provide the ability to electronically check a cardholder’s authorisation to enter a restricted area, to grant or deny access, record the event, and maintain a computer history of everyone that entered.

The system will also allow BCH to provide after-hours access to community spaces for local groups and organisations via a swipe card or fob, aligning with Australasian Health Facility Guidelines.

The Regional Health Infrastructure Fund was established in 2016 by the state government to support rural and regional health services and agencies.