MY HEALTH RECORD

Don’t panic, this could be great

Lately, the words ‘my privacy’ and ‘My Health Record’ have been on everyone’s lips.

The world of privacy law and online jargon can be a little confusing and hard to follow. As a result, people might be feeling a bit like mushrooms – kept in the dark...

Have no fear, though. Here are the things you need to know about My Health Record:

What is My Health Record?

Simply put, it is an online record of your health information that can be accessed anytime, anywhere, by you and your healthcare providers.

Who will have a My Health Record?

The short answer, is everyone. By the end of 2018, a My Health Record will be created for every Australian, unless they choose to opt-out.

What are the benefits of My Health Record?

Whether you’re on vacation in Perth and need to see a GP, or are unconscious in an emergency room in Toowoomba, healthcare providers can access the necessary information (like your allergies and current medication) quickly.

When time is critical, a My Health Record can be the difference between life and death.

What about my privacy?

To create a My Health Record, basic information about you will be collected from Medicare, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and the Australian Immunisation Register.

This is information like your name, date of birth and Medicare records from the past two years.

The important part of this equation to remember, is that you can limit the access to your information.

You can see who has accessed your record and you can require email notifications to be sent to you each time someone accesses your record.

You can refuse access to certain healthcare organisations. You can even restrict access to specific documents.

You remain in control of who has access to what.

Can my record be used for research?

Yes, your My Health Record data can be used for research and public health purposes.

But, the data will be de-identified before being released for research.