New PSA digital health pact

HEALTH Minister Greg Hunt yesterday announced a new digital health partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, in its role as the “peak national body representing pharmacists”.

The agreement aims to boost the number of pharmacists using the My Health Record system, with the PSA to review, update and develop professional guidelines for pharmacy practice and implementation tools for digital health, Hunt said.

“The PSA represents 30,000 pharmacists working in all areas of pharmacy across the country and is ideally placed to develop and deliver education, training, information and communications for the pharmacy profession,” the Health Minister added.

PSA national president Shane Jackson welcomed the agreement, saying there was significant potential for pharmacists to use digital health records as a tool to communicate with other health professionals, particularly during transitions of care.

“My Health Record will provide access to verifiable clinical information such as a shared health summary,” Jackson said.

The move follows confirmation earlier this week that several pharmacy dispensing software systems have been enhanced to allow pharmacists to access and upload information to patients’ My Health Records (PD Tue).