Mental Health Information Development Program (MHIDP)

The aim of Mental Health Information Development Program (MHIDP) is to develop an information management culture and technology infrastructure capable of supporting comprehensive care for the population across the lifespan and across service settings.

Two key elements of this program are:

Information collection for the Commonwealth Minimum Data Set, Centre for Mental Health and NSW Health�s DOHRS collection.
Ensuring that mental health clinicians develop understanding, competency and skills in information technology. This will assist in the implementation of the new Clinical Information System(s) due to be implemented in the near future which in turn will move towards the Electronic Health Record.

Data collection currently uses an interim system, the SCI_MHOAT database, which is a single Area-wide database residing on a server in Lismore. All mental health service sites are able to connect to the database and access is limited to staff of Mental Health Services.

The database consists of basic demographic information of clients of mental health services and includes an ongoing record of contacts with clinicians. The data, used in de-identified and aggregated form, assists service delivery, planning and evaluation.

The collection of the data by clinicians is a core part of work practice for all mental health staff in NSW. In Northern Rivers, training for SCI_MHOAT is part of core orientation and is supported by the MHIDP Manager.