A new initiative for electronic health records has been announced for the Australian Defence forces, the Defence Joint eHealth Data and Information (JeHDI) System.

Designed to improve the quality of healthcare to all Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, JeHDI will link health data from recruitment to discharge and allow for treating health practitioner to access patients complete health record.

A web based system which can be accessed wherever internet is available, while still maintaining confidentiality and data integrity, JeHDI will simplify record management and provide immediate access to patients' medical records and other healthcare information.

"Defence must continue to provide high-quality healthcare in a timely and affordable fashion that supports both operational capability requirements and efficient and effective health support to non-deployed members within Australia," Vice Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General David Hurley said.

"To this end, the ADF is reforming healthcare delivery options to better achieve greater efficiency and patient satisfaction."

The ADF has consulted extensively with other agencies including the Department of Health and Ageing, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the National eHealth Transition Authority. JeHDI accords with the National eHealth Strategy and the 'Whole of Government' information and communications technology paradigm. JeHDI is also being developed with Defence, Oakton and CSC Australia.

The JeHDI system will be developed through a staged process including a pilot. It is aimed that the project will be completed by 31 December 2013.