A FORUM last Wednesday informed Hawkesbury residents about new online health records about to be implemented in our area.
My Health Record will mean you don’t have to repeat your medical history and medications every time you visit a doctor or other healthcare professional.
The Hawkesbury is part of a trial where residents will be automatically given a My Health Record unless they choose not to have one.
The Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (NBMPHN) is rolling out the trial locally and organised the forum to allow residents to find out more and ask questions.
The forum explained that the My Health Record system uses bank-strength security including strong encryption and firewalls, secure logins and audit logging to protect individuals’ personal health information. Access is via myGov accounts.
The records will be created next month and people can then access their records and can adjust their privacy settings, including which healthcare organisations can see the record. GPs will be able to contribute information from mid July.
Ray and Lorraine Gardner from North Richmond opted in to an electronic health record in 2012 as they were setting off in their motorhome and wanted GPs anywhere to be able to access their records.
They have several chronic health conditions between them – diabetes, melanoma, a back fusion, a nerve operation and a penicillin allergy so access to their health records was invaluable.
More details are at MyHealthRecord.gov.au or call 1800 723 471. You have until May 27 to opt out of the trial.