My Health Record – It’s your choice
Australians to decide on a smarter and safer way to share their important healthcare information
What is My Health Record?
My Health Record is a secure online summary of an individual’s health information and is available to all Australians. Healthcare providers authorised by their healthcare organisation can access My Health Record to view and add to their patients’ health information.
My Health Record does not replace existing health records. Rather, it supplements these with a high-value, shared source of patient information that can improve care planning and decision making.
Information available through My Health Record can include, a patient’s health summary, medication prescribing and dispensing history, pathology reports, diagnostic imaging reports and discharge summaries.
From July 16th all Australians will be able to decide if they want a My Health Record.
More than 5.9 million Australians already have a My Health Record and 12,860 healthcare professional organisations are connected, including general practices, hospitals, pharmacies, diagnostic imaging and pathology practices. The My Health Record is already making healthcare management for individuals and healthcare providers easier and safer and could save lives in an emergency situation.
Australians can manage privacy and control access to their My Health Record including what information gets uploaded and who has access such as family members, carers and healthcare providers. This empowers them to share and control their health information with doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers from anywhere, at any time.
By the end of 2018, a My Health Record will be created for every Australian, unless they choose not to have one.
If people choose not to have a My Health Record, they will be able to opt out of having one created for them during a three-month period, starting on Monday 16 July and ending on October 15, 2018.
My Health Record aims to deliver better healthcare outcomes and safer care for people. It will reduce harm caused by medication errors because people and their healthcare providers will have access to important information about medicines and allergies. This could save lives in an emergency.
More efficient management of care
My Health Record will help people with chronic and complex health conditions have better coordinated care. It will enable all of their clinicians to see the same healthcare information. This should also reduce avoidable hospital admissions and the unnecessary duplication of pathology and imaging investigations.”
Australia’s peak GP, pharmacy, and healthcare bodies support My Health Record and the Government’s decision to move the system to an opt out model.
Those who support My Health Record includes:
Consumers Health Forum (CHF)
Australian Medical Association (AMA)
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
Pharmacy Guild of Australia
Australian Healthcare and Hospital Association (AHHA)
More information on My Health Record can be found at www.myhealthrecord.gov.au.
It’s your choice
People who do not want a My Health Record can opt out by visiting the My Health Record website or by calling 1800 723 471 for phone-based assistance.
Please also speak to our team if you have any queries or concerns, we are here to support your health for the long term.
Resources:
https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au
The above blog article provides general information on health related topics relevant at the time of publishing.
This content is not intended and should not be construed as specific medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately licensed physician or other health care worker.
