Driving change in e-referrals: Optometry Australia engages with Primary Health TAS

Optometry Australia (OA) continues to advocate for improvements in referral pathways, ensuring optometrists can deliver seamless patient care. OA State Lead – Tasmania Karen Garner-Hamilton and Optometry Advancement Advisor, Nicola Mountford recently met with Primary Health TAS (PH TAS) in Hobart to explore opportunities to enhance e-referrals.

PH TAS has identified optometry as the priority profession for streamlined e-referrals and sought to understand the current referral landscape. We advised that currently, most Tasmanian optometrists use either Oculo or custom templates, with referrals sent via fax or email. However, a lack of integration with HealthLink creates inefficiencies, requiring practitioners to manually transfer data and attach images separately.

As PH TAS learns further about how optometry currently refers, the option of direct integration directly into the Tasmanian Health Service (THS) with Oculo will be investigated and HealthLink will be an option for those who are not using Oculo.

OA’s engagement in these discussions is essential in advocating for optometry’s needs and ensuring that optometry has a seat at the table when digital health solutions are developed. We continue to push for integration, efficiency, and improved communication pathways, ensuring optometry has a strong voice in the development of digital health solutions, ultimately benefiting both practitioners and patients.

OA will continue to push for meaningful change and welcomes member feedback here on how we can further enhance e-referral processes.