Do you often visit different health care providers? Have a chronic health condition? Frequently travel interstate?
Perhaps you or someone in your family could benefit from a My Health Record.
What is a My Health Record?
A My Health Record is an online record of all your health information in one central, secure place.
What this means is that all of your healthcare providers such as your family GP, other doctors, hospital staff and specialists, can access, upload and share vital information about your healthcare.
This enables all of your healthcare providers to give you the best care possible for your unique situation.
Why have a My Health Record?
A My Health Record is a great option for parents to help keep track of their children’s health history (up to the age of 14).
It’s also a big time saver for patients with complex health care needs.
Health providers can access information from one central place, and every provider is able to access up-to-date information regarding current conditions, care plans, test results and treatments.
Log in to your myGov account to view your record and you can:
- Add personal notes about your allergies and allergic reactions, an advance care plan or custodian details
- Set access controls to restrict who can and can’t see your health information
- Review your own health information, and see the information your healthcare providers can see
- Set up SMS or email notifications so you know when a healthcare provider first accesses your record.
Healthcare providers will be able to access details whether you are interstate, in a medical emergency or simply changing doctors.
You can opt out at any point.
Who has a My Health Record?
Every Australian citizen automatically has a shared record, although once they turn the age of 14, patients automatically have a private shared record.
Who can upload to your My Health Record?
Your GP and other health providers can upload information to your shared record and this can be viewed by you securely online, from anywhere, at any time – even if you move or travel interstate. You can access your health information from any computer or device that’s connected to the internet.
Who can see what?
You can decide. The Shared Record is not designed to replace clinical information held at your General practice or with other health care providers – it is a summary only.
The type of information that is stored on a My Health Record includes:
- Current medications
- Medical conditions
- Allergies
- Vaccinations
- Test results
- Medicare claims
- Organ donation
Test Results:
If you have a pathology or radiology test and don’t wish for the results to be uploaded please INFORM your GP as the test is being written. They need to tick a box which stops the pathology\radiology provider automatically uploading the results.
When might an upload to your account occur?
This should be guided by how necessary the information is to support clinical decision-making.
Will the information be of benefit to other healthcare providers, and therefore yourself in the future?
If you are taken to hospital and cannot talk, what would be beneficial for a doctor or specialist to know?
It is worth knowing not every interaction with your GP leads to your shared summary being updated. You may wish to ask for the GP or other health care provider to specifically do an upload.
There is no obligation for them to upload information for every encounter but it is important both parties recognise instances when it will be particularly beneficial.
Up to date information
It is important you keep your information up to date because the most recently uploaded information is likely to be the first accessed by any other healthcare professional viewing your My Health Record.
This is especially important if you visit more than one GP. Any changes to medication, allergies, diagnosed medical conditions or other important changes to your health care requirements, should be passed on to your GP so they can update your clinical file and then your shared record.
Are there privacy issues?
Strict regulations govern who can view your My Health Record. You can choose to control the information that is shared in your My Health Record and you will also be able to see who has accessed your record.
You can cancel your My Health Record at any time
Once your Record is created, you can choose to cancel your My Health Record and permanently delete your information from the system, at any time.
This does not impact medical records held at our practice, or any other practice.
Is a patient’s consent required to upload a Shared Health Summary?
To create a shared health summary, the healthcare provider (our practice) will need to obtain your agreement that:
- the healthcare provider is to be the individual’s Nominated Healthcare Provider;
- the healthcare provider is to create a shared health summary for the patient.
How to get a My Health Record
You’ll first need to create a myGov account if you don’t already have one.
A myGov account allows you to securely access services from government agencies such as Medicare, Centrelink and the Australian Tax Office.
myGov is also where you access your My Health Record.
You’ll then need to verify your identity. Here’s what you’ll need on hand:
- Your myGov account login
- An email address that belongs to you
- Medicare Card
- The BSB and bank account number you currently use for Medicare
- Your address as recorded by Medicare
- Information about your last doctor’s visit
Further information and FAQs
You can find My Health Record information packs at all general practices and medical centres, containing updates which may assist in providing information for patients on the strengthened privacy protections.
Following is a link to additional information in the form of FAQs for patients:
https://www.myhealthrecord.gov.au/for-you-your-family/howtos/frequently-asked-questions
What next?
Once your myGov account and My Health Record account are set up, there’s a final step to complete the process:
When you next visit your GP, ask your GP to put your health information into your My Health Record.
You can agree on which records can be shared to your My Health Record, and which records you would prefer to remain on our practice files only.
We look forward to helping you setup your My Health Record. Simplifying the management of your healthcare for you and all of your healthcare providers is a positive step towards better health.
For further information, go to https://myhealthrecord.gov.au.
You can also speak with our friendly Reception team on 07 5578 9000.