ACT Health has started building a single repository to unify its data holdings following a system-wide review of the territory’s health data management processes.

The “single source of truth for all data requirements” is one of nine key recommendations from the review [pdf] accepted by the government earlier this week to improve data governance, collection and management.

The review had been order by Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris last year after ACT Health was unable to provide the Productivity Commission with figures on emergency department performance because of concerns with the accuracy of its data.

The new data repository and reporting capability will “collect, store, extract and transform quality data to deliver better insights to the community”.

It will see the more than 250 different system – a number of which are outdated in part due to budgetary constraints – in place across the agency that hold patient data reformed.

“This is a complex environment to collect, store, transform and report consistent information on the 1.5 million episodes of care that ACT Health provides each year,” the review states.

“Technologies and best practice data management activities are not embedded, limiting innovation and efficiencies.”

Fitzharris said the review would also see the development of web portals to convey information regarding emergency department wait times.

Implementation of all recommendations is expected to begin this year, with an update every six months outlining progress.

“The Review has given ACT Health a granular examination of what is needed to address the shortfalls in data reporting and collection and a clear path ahead to become the jurisdiction to watch when it comes to best practice data management,” said Fitzharris.

“The way forward is now very clear and there is still considerable work ahead for ACT Health to drive these changes in a planned and systematic way.”