Queensland’s digital health record system hit by “log-in issues”

Queensland hospitals that use the state’s integrated electronic medical record (ieMR) system have had to partially revert to paper-based processes due to login issues that started at 8am local time.

The state’s health department said in a statement that the system, which is used in some but not all Queensland hospitals, started to encounter login issues “for some users”.

“Users logged on prior to the issue commencing at about 8am this morning are able to continue using the ieMR system and can change users, allowing them to also log in using a supportive function within the active session,” Queensland Health said in a post to X, formerly Twitter.

“Where healthcare workers cannot log in, well-practised alternative paper-based processes are in place and all clinical services continue to be available to the public.”

Queensland Health said it is “working closely” with software vendor Cerner – now owned by Oracle – “to address the issue as soon as possible.”

The Courier Mail indicated the outage was causing some “chaos” in affected hospitals, though did not cite a source for its information.

Fourteen (14) hospitals are presently listed as “advanced” ieMR users, with a number still yet to onboard.

The software project has been running since 2011, with an estimated cost of over $1 billion, though this is broadly in line with at least one other similar state-based project.

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AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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