Your questions about My Health Record’s opt-out system answered

In this article, we take a look at how the move to an opt-out system for the Federal Government’s My Health Record will impact doctors like yourself, and your patients.

What is My Health Record?

My Health Record is an online summary of an individual’s key health information that can be shared securely between an individual and the healthcare providers involved in their care.

For patients, it means their important health information such as medical conditions, medicines, allergies and test results are kept together in one place.

How does My Health Record impact your patients?

Patients could benefit from having a digital record accessible by their treating GP in a number of ways. For instance, individuals with complex health conditions who see several healthcare providers, or in situations where the GP is not the patient’s regular GP.

How does My Health Record impact GPs and Health Care Professionals?

For GPs and health care professionals, My Health Record can build awareness of the patient’s medical history, which could assist in clinical decision-making. This could help avoid adverse drug events, enhance patients’ self-management, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the time it takes to gather patient information.

It could also improve access to patient Advance Care Directives (or custodian details) and help avoid duplication of services.

How can your patients get a My Health Record?

This year, every person with a Medicare or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card will get a My Health Record, if they do not opt out before 15 October 2018.

What is opt-out?

This year, every person with a Medicare or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card can decide whether they wish to have a My Health Record. During the three-month period between 16 July 2018 and 15 October 2018, individuals can opt-out if they choose to.

How do individuals opt out?

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 by 15 October 2018.

According to the Australian Digital Health Agency, individuals can cancel their My Health Record at any time, or create one if they previously opted out.

How will My Health Record impact my clinical software?

It is important for healthcare providers to ensure their clinical information software is using the most recent version to ensure access to all the latest additions to My Health Record, such as medicines view and pathology and the capacity to view uploaded diagnostic imaging reports.

What about privacy?

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 allows patients to share and control their health information with doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers anywhere, at any time.

Where can I found out more information on set up, access, security and training?

There are a number of resources available for healthcare professionals to help with the new My Health Record system. These include: