My Health Record

Important update

Primary Sense will be replacing the Pen CS systems CAT4 and Topbar in May 2023. Primary Sense is an evidence based clinical audit and decision support tool that provides on demand, pre-filtered reports at the click of a button.

From November 2022 your practice can gain access to Primary Sense. Simply complete the online form and our team will be in touch. For further information, visit our webpage.

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.

Visit www.myhealthrecord.gov.au to learn more.

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 a MY HEALTH RECORD
  • Avoiding adverse drug events
  • Enhancing patient self-management
  • Improving patient outcomes
  • Reducing time gathering information
  • Avoiding duplication of services.
Further information

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 a 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 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.

Identifiers to access a My Health Record

  1. Where the service was provided: Healthcare Provider Identifier – Organisation (HPI-O)
  2. Who provided the service: Healthcare Provider Identifier Individual (HPI-I)
  3. Who received the service: Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI)

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.

For more information see privacy and security for providers.

In registering to the My Health Record system, organisations agree to comply with the My Health Records Act 2012 , the My Health Records Regulation 2012 and the My Health Records Rule 2016. This includes having a policy in place that addresses certain matters, such as security measures and training of staff.

RACGP have 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. 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.

Check if your software is conformant here.

National Provider Portal

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.

Useful resources

Find below links to useful resources to set up your clinical software to access My Health Record.

Best Practice
Medical Director
Genie
Software Support

For support, contact your software vendor or the Digital Health Team (ehealth@bsphn.org.au | 1300 467 265).

The Australian Digital Health Agency have developed a range of clinical software summary sheets with step-by-step instructions for interacting with My Health Record. Access the full range here.

Provider Portal

Accessing My Health Record via the Provider Portal

Best Practice
Medical Director
Genie
in-practice training for providers

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 for providers

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 – Simulated test environment

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.

Access the training

My Health Record and Queensland Health’s Health Provider Portal (The viewer) Comparison

There are a number of promotional resources for health care professionals and consumers that can be used to inform consumers about My Health Record.

Useful resources

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:

  1. Integrating healthcare identifiers into electronic practice records
  2. Secure messaging capability
  3. Data records and clinical coding
  4. Electronic transfers of prescriptions
  5. My Health Record system access and uploading

Useful resources:

Requirement 1:  Integrating Healthcare Identifiers into Electronic Practice Record

Requirement 2:  Secure Messaging Capability

Requirement 3:  Data Records and Clinical Coding

Requirement 4:  Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions

Requirement 5: My Health Record Access and Uploading

Uploading a Shared Health Summary instructions sheets

Shared Health Summary Calculators

CAT4 and Clinical Systems
Other Digital Health Initiatives