The Australian My Health Record initiative is expected to take off in early 2019. Australians have been given until 31 January 2019 to opt-out before an account is automatically created for them. But, while this provides patients and healthcare providers with a more convenient way to manage and share patient data, it also raises many controversial privacy concerns. A significant issue that is expected to arise is the increase in privacy breaches. This is a result of employee negligence or spying, leaving electronic health records (EHR) vulnerable to illicit access.

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The Australian Government is in the process of transforming its My Health Record initiative from an opt-in to an opt-out one. Initially, the Australian Digital Health Agency had given people until mid- October to opt out before an account would be automatically made for them, but heavy backlash has prompted the Federal Government to amend the My Health Record Legislation and introduce stricter and more detailed regulations regarding patient records.

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The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has given Australians a three month period to opt out of having their health records go digital. The time window began 16 July and ends 15 October. It is reported that most Australians will have electronic access to their My Health Records towards the end of 2018 if they do not withdraw their participation.

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Cloud computing has reached every industry and educating people has made the idea of cloud storage more feasible in the minds of the general public. So much so, that even some of the most security critical industries have dared to venture into the cloud. This case study uses Westpac, a banking corporation, as an example to outline some of the benefits of a cloud transition. Over the coming years, the bank plans to move 70 percent of the its processes to a hybrid Platform as a Service (PaaS) cloud environment, through the organisation's 'Agilus' initiative. The remaining 30 percent consisting of old applications do not require change and will therefore remain on-premises. Below is a list of some of the benefits that organisations and their customers may realise as a result of their transition to the cloud:

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There are certain things, typically mentioned in SLAs, that a customer should receive as integral components of their IT help desk purchase. But, while an SLA is a vital part of B2B transactions, not all vendors will act in accordance with it. What is worse is that in many cases the SLA itself fails to provide clear-cut and comprehensive details on the level of service a customer will receive. In both cases, the customer suffers the consequences. Here are three things that organisations should expect from their IT help desk vendors:

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Most companies start off small, using manual processes to complete tasks due to budget and resource restrictions. But as an organisation expands, there comes a time when this simply is not enough and automation becomes a strategic necessity. It is at this point that business leaders should invest in IT help desks. Below is a list of signs that it is time for your company to deploy an IT help desk:

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing faster than ever before and is bringing new solutions to healthcare. This rising industry has created many opportunities for the betterment of medical treatments through the use of various technologies and equipment that can sense, understand, function and learn new things. These new capabilities allow AI to perform specialised medical and administrative tasks in the many divisions of healthcare. According to the World Health Organisation, by 2035, there will be a shortage of 12.9 million medical professionals internationally. AI can respond to the increasing demand by making up for some tasks where staff members are lacking. Listed below are seven ways in which healthcare is being reformed by AI:

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Even though shadow IT (or rogue IT) has wreaked havoc on organisational order, it is an unavoidable trend that IT departments must get ahead of and use to their advantage. Listed below are several ways that leaders can utilise to make the most of the current situation:

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While the core elements of excellent customer service are generally always the same, there are stark differences in the way it is managed within the healthcare industry and outside of it. Customers typically do not want to visit their medical practitioner or the hospital, but when they have no choice but to do so, their nerves can quickly be worked into a frenzy. Consequently, healthcare entities should go the extra mile in providing their patients with exceptional customer service. Below is a list of 5 tips that can enhance customer service strategies among healthcare entities:

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