Following the recent decision by myBeepr to decommission their platform from 5pm Tuesday 17^th October 2023, Western Health will begin using Slack as an interim messaging tool for staff. 

Staff can use Slack to communicate through text messaging, create private chats or channels, and have voice and video calls. All content -including files, conversations, and people- is searchable within Slack, and staff can organise their chat groups by topic.

To sign up and commence using Slack, please follow the Quick Reference Guides available here.

Slack is a useful communication tool for staff, however it is important that staff continue to comply with the relevant policies and privacy guidelines with regards to the information that is shared.

Slack Guidelines

Conversations on Slack which include UR numbers and patient details constitutes health information.  As such, disclosure of patients’ health or personal information on Slack will be subject to the same legislative requirements as the patient’s medical record or internal emails that contain health information.

Staff obligations in relation to health information are summarised in our Information Privacy Policy and Release of Personal and Health Information procedure.  The primary relevant legislation is the Health Services Act 1988 (Vic).

Please note in particular, Western Health’s commitment to our patients as outlined in our Information Privacy Policy:

To the extent required by the Relevant Legislation, Western Health will take reasonable steps to:

• make sure that your information that we collect, hold, use and disclose is accurate, complete and up to date; and
• protect your information that we hold from misuse, interference and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

Slack’s relationship to the medical record

Clinicians should also ensure that any health information relevant to a patient’s care that is conveyed over Slack is also included in the patient’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR). Communications made about a specific patient that impacts the management and intervention for the patient should also be documented in the EMR.

This helps to ensure there is an enduring record available to all clinicians regarding patient care and complies with our legal obligations as mentioned above.

For more information on Slack please visit the dedicated Slack page of the Digital Health information site.

Western Health is committed to finding a long-term replacement for myBeepr that will enhance our provision of Best Care for our community, and thanks you for your patience and understanding while we work towards this.

For further information on this transition, please contact Deputy Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Dr Ann Boo – [email protected] or Medical Clinical Informatics Analyst, Dr Adrian Sukri – [email protected].