August 2018
My Health Record
‘My Health Record’ has existed for a few years now and is an online summary of your key health information managed by the Commonwealth Government. Previously it required people to ‘Opt In’ however from 15th of October 2018, all people with a Medicare or DVA card will be automatically ‘Opted In’ unless you choose to ‘Opt Out’. Please understand this is NOT an initiative by Village Baxter, it is an Australia wide Commonwealth Government Program.
The ‘My Health Record’ allows healthcare providers to access your health information securely online. Whether you’re visiting a GP for a check-up, or in an emergency room following an accident and are unable to talk, healthcare providers involved in your care can access important health information, such as:
- Allergies
- Medicines you are taking
- Medical conditions you have been diagnosed with
- Pathology test results like blood tests
Access to information is controlled and people can adjust their individual settings to allow trusted people, such as family members, friends or carers, to view and help manage your health information. People can apply restrictions to the information that healthcare provider organisations can see and even restrict access to specific documents in your ‘My Health Record’.
On the surface this appears to be a very complex process for anyone who does not use the internet and have a ‘mygov’ account, however there is a telephone help line available. The ‘My Health Record’ information brochure that has been reproduced in this month’s Village Voice to assist your understanding of what ‘My Health Record’ is and how it can be of use to you in your future health care.
I encourage you to stay informed and consider the benefits of using ‘My Health Record’. It is likely that as the October 15 ‘Opt Out’ deadline approaches, there will be a lot of media attention on the potential problems with the system and if you are concerned about something you hear, please talk with your Doctor or call the helpline to get all of the facts before making a decision to ‘Opt Out’.
Til next month.
Kim Jackson, Executive Manager