My Health Record is a secure online summary of an individual’s health information and is available to all Australians. Health care providers, authorised by their health care organisation, can access My Health Record to view and add to their patients’ health information.
My Health Record does not replace existing health records. Rather, it supplements these with a high-value, shared source of patient information that can improve care planning and decision making.
Watch this webinar on the key things health professionals need to know about My Health Record.
Information in My Health Record
My Health Record brings together health information from health care providers across the sector, allowing important patient information to be shared between them. This can include:
medications
allergies
diagnoses
hospital discharge summary
pathology and imaging.
Patients can also enter their own health information such as a personal health summary or an advance care directive.
For more information about what is in a My Health Record, click here.
Key benefits of using My Health Record
Avoiding adverse drug events
Enhancing patient self-management
Improving patient outcomes
Reducing time gathering information
Avoiding duplication of services.
eHealth Practice Incentive Program (ePIP)
The eHealth Practice Incentive Program (ePIP) aims to encourage general practices to keep up to date with the latest developments in digital health technologies. Practices can apply for the ePIP through HPOS.
There are currently five requirements for practices to become eligible for the ePIP and they are:
Integrating health care identifiers into electronic practice records
In 2023 the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) released the my health app. This app lets patients and their healthcare providers view key health information in a fast, easy and secure solution in the palm of the hand.
Get started with my health
Before accessing my health you will need:
a myGov account already linked to My Health Record and
to have accessed My Health Record at least once through a web browser
Download my health from your app store. Use the links below or search for "my health gov" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Open the app, select Get Started and follow the prompts.
Start exploring!
The my health app is especially useful for healthcare providers without conformant software to access health information about their patients. The patients can share their data with these providers through the app.
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA), as the My Health Record system operator, has a layered security model with multiple security controls in place to protect the confidentiality, integrity and privacy of consumer health care information. Security controls include:
strong encryption
firewalls
secure login/authentication mechanisms
audit log
Accessing and uploading to My Health Record
Individuals with a My Health Record provide standing consent for all health care providers who give direct care to them to view and upload clinical information to their record.
There are 3 healthcare identifiers that form the digital health foundations and ensure the right health information can be accessed for the right individual at the point of care. These identifiers are required for access to a My Health Record.
Where the service was provided: Healthcare Provider Identifier – Organisation (HPI-O)
Who provided the service: Healthcare Provider Identifier Individual (HPI-I)
Who received the service: Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI)
Privacy controls
Individuals control which health care organisations can access the information in their My Health Record by enabling advanced privacy controls including:
Control access
Lock documents
Nominate representatives
Check activity.
Control access
Limit access to the entire record or to some documents using an access code. In an emergency, a provider can assert the emergency access functionality which will override the existing access controls for a specified period.
Lock documents
Restrict viewing of specific documents to selected providers.
Nominate representatives
Nominate people to manage the record on behalf of the individuals.
Check activity
Alerts can be set to receive an SMS or email when the record is opened or added to. Additionally, all activity in a record is saved in an audit log.
The RACGP has developed a template policy document that can be adjusted and implemented within the organisation. More information about the Digital Health policies can be found here.
Accessing the My Health Record system
There are two ways through which authorised health care providers can access an individual’s record in the My Health Record system: either with your conformant software or the National Provider Poratl. The way you will be accessing the system will determine the registration process that needs to be followed.
Conformant software
Accessing the My Health Record system through conformant clinical software enables health care providers to upload, view and download information from an individual’s My Health Record.
If a health care provider does not have access to conformant software, they can view an individual’s My Health Record through the National Provider Portal. The health care provider will be able to view and download information from the individual’s My Health Record, but will not be able to upload any clinical information.
For support, contact your software vendor or the Digital Health Team (ehealth@bsphn.org.au | 1300 467 265).
Viewing and uploading information
The Australian Digital Health Agency has developed a range of clinical software summary sheets with step-by-step instructions for interacting with My Health Record. Access the full range here.
The Brisbane South PHN Digital Health team can provide in practice training and support. Please email ehealth@bsphn.org.au or phone 1300 467 265 for more information or to lock in an education session.
Self-paced training
These self-paced training modules introduce the key principles which will underpin use of the My Health Record system and demonstrate its features and functionalities. The training covers a range of topics and includes specific modules for general practice, community pharmacy, hospitals, specialists, allied health and residential aged care.
On Demand Training - Software simulations
On Demand Training is an online platform that allows users to simulate the use of My Health Record in their clinical software using a fictional patient and General Practitioner log in.
There are a number of software simulators available through On Demand Training including:
Best Practice
Communicare
Fred Dispense
Genie
Medical Director, and
ZedMed.
The On Demand Training platform also provides a simulation of the My Health Record Consumer Portal. This system simulates the look and functionality of a consumer’s view of the My Health Record system for a fictitious patient, and replicates many of the functions with which consumers may interact.
In addition to the national My Health Record system, Queensland’s general practitioners have secure online access to their patients' Queensland Health records through the Health Provider Portal (known as the Viewer). This read-only, online access will allow GPs to view public hospital information including appointment records, radiology and laboratory results, treatment and discharge summaries, and demographic and medication details.
This access will bridge the information gap between Queensland’s GPs and public hospitals and help ensure patients receive consistent, timely and better coordinated care. All GPs need to register to access the Health Provider Portal here.
