Health Technology Program

Information for Health Services

Health services are responsible for supporting the safe introduction of new technology and new clinical practices across their organisations. They also have a responsibility in supporting the cessation of clinical practice, and the discontinuation of old technology, where there is robust evidence that the practice is clinically ineffective or potentially harmful to patients.

Policy and funding guidelines exist to provide information to health services and direction around best practice.

Technology and Clinical Practice Committees

Metropolitan health services maintain Technology and Clinical Practice (TCP) committees under funding policy guidelines. Larger regional health services also maintain TCP committees and smaller rural health services have the option to adopt a TCP committee governance model.

The role of a TCP committee is to:

• Assess proposals for the introduction of new technology and clinical practice.
• Monitor the uptake of new technology and clinical practice.
• Review the use of existing technology and clinical practice.

New Technology Program annual funding round

The 2012-13 New Technology Program Funding Round is NOW CLOSED - see the New Technology Program webpage for details.

Health Service Reporting requirements

Health services must meet the following reporting requirements as a condition of funding

1. Activity reporting to the department

All health services must submit four quarterly data reports using the attached proforma.

activity report proforma (MS excel file, 19kb)

Reporting deadlines for the 2011-12 financial year are:

Quarter 1 reports are due by: Tuesday 18 October 2011

Quarter 2 reports are due by: Tuesday 31 January 2012

Quarter 3 reports are due by: Tuesday 17 April 2012

Quarter 4 reports are due by: Tuesday 17 July 2012

The department is to be notified as soon as practicable if a health service believes they may not meet a reporting deadline.

Please note that missing a reporting deadline may result in action by the department.

Important note: Missing two reporting deadlines with no notification to the department may result in the immediate withdrawal of all NTP funding for that technology.

2. Progress reporting to VPACT

All health service must submit two six monthly progress reports to the department for review by VPACT.

Please note that the progress report proforma is currently under review.

Reporting deadlines for the 2011-12 financial year are:

Progress reports 1 are due by: Tuesday 14 February 2012

Progress reports 2 are due by: Tuesday 31 July 2012

Enquiries

Enquiries about any aspect of the Health Technology Program can be directed to:

Ms Suzanne Byers, phone (03) 9096 1410 or email suzanne.byers@health.vic.gov.au, or to
Dr Paul Fennessy, phone (03) 9096 2142 or email paul.fennessy@health.vic.gov.au.