Implications of managing health related records and relevant information systems within intergovernmental agencies

TL;DR

This paper explores how intergovernmental agencies in Australia manage health records and information systems across jurisdictions, focusing on legal, operational, and data sovereignty challenges in a federated system.

Contribution

It analyzes the implications of legal frameworks on managing health records within intergovernmental agencies and proposes considerations for data disposal, cost savings, and data sovereignty.

Findings

Legal obligations influence record management practices.

Intergovernmental agencies face unique challenges in data disposal and sovereignty.

New legal frameworks impact information system implementation.

Abstract

The implications of intergovernmental agencies may forever change the way in which governments provide common services within a federated Australia. As governments seek to reduce duplication and inconsistencies across state and territory borders, intergovernmental agencies, born out of intergovernmental agreements, without any link to specific state or territory legislation, are challenging managers to develop, new approaches to procurement and implement information systems within this new legal dynamic framework. This paper considers the implications to managing health related records and their IT systems, having common legislative obligations across all Australia jurisdictions, to determine whether these new forms of government allow for the disposal of information, aimed at saving costs, improving the quality of data and reduce litigious risk. The paper also investigates the more general implications for any organisation operating nationally, to data sovereignty and how legislative ownership of records may predetermine how and where intergovernmental agencies can manage information assets.