HealthSmart, a four-year project worth A$323 million (US$234.9 million), has already signed up TrakHealth Pty Ltd. to provide a client management system, iSoft plc for the integrated patient and client management system and Frontier Software Pty Ltd. for the human resource management system. Oracle Corp. has been selected to provide the financial and supply management system.

The HealthSmart program is expected to be completed in 2007. The clinical system will provide clinicians with timely patient history information, as well as the latest information to aid doctors in deciding on treatments.

Victorian Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said work has already started on standardizing the medical terminology that will become the backbone of the Victorian clinical systems implementation.

"The application will allow clinicians to order pathology tests, medical imaging tests and medications for their patients online, meaning quicker results and more time with patients," Pike said.

"It will improve medications management practices and automate ordering services. At the same time it will increase the availability and timeliness of information for clinical staff and reduce the administrative burden.