National Rural and Remote Health Awards

Royal Flying Doctor Service Receives Prestigious Innovator Award for Electronic Health Record

Date published

14 Nov 2023

In an outstanding achievement, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has been honored with the Rural/Remote Health Innovator of the Year award for its groundbreaking Electronic Health Record Project.

RFDS Team in Canberra

The accolade, presented by Rural Health Pro, recognises the RFDS's commitment to innovation and excellence in advancing healthcare services for rural and remote communities. 

The ceremony took place at Parliament House Canberra, on the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal people, this Monday, 13th November.

This project exemplifies the dedication to leveraging technology to overcome geographical barriers and improve patient outcomes.

RFDS Team in Canberra

Designed by the RFDS to be compatible with every state and territory health system, the Electronic Health Record allows doctors, nurses and paramedics to share critical medical information in real-time – regardless of whether the patient is in the air and on the ground.

From a laptop or mobile device, RFDS crews can now digitally record a patient’s vital health stats during flight and share the data live with the awaiting receiving team on the ground, meaning life-saving decisions can be made even before the aircraft wheels touch down.

RFDS Team in Canberra

In addition to the Innovator award, the RFDS also received acclaim for its outstanding contributions in the category of Rural/Remote Aged and Disability Carer of the Year. 


The Memory Lane project, based in Victoria, was recognized for its commendable efforts in providing care and support to aged and disabled individuals in remote areas.