Residents urged to record health data
At the touch of an app on their phone, individuals can not only access their personal health details but in an emergency, health professionals also can access sometimes lifesaving information.
My Health Record is a secure online summary of a person’s health information that can be accessed at any time by the individual and their healthcare providers.
The digital file will enable patients to change clinicians, be admitted to and discharged from hospital, record medications and see other medical professionals with a summary of their reports being uploaded.
Trafalgar Medical Clinic Dr James Brown said My Health Record had the potential to save people’s lives in emergencies and could save times on accessing vital medical reports and information about a person’s medications.
Dr Brown said My Health Record was the “obvious answer.”
“Issues of communication can compromise a patient’s care and our ability to do our job,” he said.
Dr Brown cited a recent incident with an elderly patient who did not really know what had happened to him and he was unaware of his medications. He said medical professionals being able to access a My Health Record would assist the care provided.
He said having all the data accessible on line was the way to go.
Dr Brown welcomed news that hospitals also would be using the system to provide discharge summaries of patients.
Australian Digital Health Agency chief executive officer Tim Kelsey outlined the advantages of My Health Record in Trafalgar last week after Latrobe Regional Hospital became the first Gippsland hospital to come online with providing discharge summaries to a person’s My Health Record.
Other Gippsland hospitals, including West Gippsland, also will come online.
All Australians will have the benefit of receiving a My Health Record before the end of 2018, unless they choose not to have one.
My Health Record gives community members the capacity to upload important health information including allergies, medical conditions and treatments, medicine details, test results and immunisations.
Individuals with a My Health Record have 24hour, seven day per week access to their own health information. But, importantly, in an emergency, health professionals also can access sometimes lifesaving information.
Every Australian will be offered a My Health Record unless they choose not to have one during the three month opt out period that will run from July.
Mr Kelsey said My Health Record had the ability to reduce the risk of medication error and people being given the wrong medications in hospital.
He said it also reduced the need for multiple diagnostic tests. He said 14 to 20 per cent of pathology and radiology tests were duplicated because clinicians don’t know the results.
Mr Kelsey said a health record also enabled clinicians to better co-ordinate long term plans and deliver a care plan to individuals.
“We hope very quickly we can bring all the data on line and accelerate the clinical quality of patients,” he said.
Mr Kelsey addressed concerns about privacy, saying the system gives complete control to individuals in setting their password and privacy controls, including receiving alerts if a health professional accessed their information.
In the case of emergencies, he said there were options for health professionals to use a “break glass” option if someone is unconscious or not able to provide consent.
A My Health Record will be created when individuals attend at their GP or other medical professional.
Individuals can cancel their My Health Record at any time after the end of the opt out period – or create one, if they opted out.