There is no shortage of grey nomads who remain deeply sceptical about the effectiveness of signing up for the Government’s highly-promoted online medical records system.
Common complaints relate to the fact that many doctors haven’t yet ‘bought into’ the system and basically that the reality on the ground simply doesn’t live up to the hype.
The rollout continues nonetheless, and the Digital Health Agency insists that any teething troubles with ‘My Health Record’ will be ironed out. To date, more than five million Australians have signed up to use it and, by the end of the year, every Australian will have a My Health Record unless they make a deliberate decision to ‘opt out’.
Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt has been out on the road this week touting the benefits of the digital system … particularly for mature-aged caravanners and motorhomers.
“I want senior Australians in particular to benefit from this investment, especially the many mobile grey nomads who are enjoying our wonderful country and will be able to make the most of more connected care,” he told a community information session in the Sydney suburb of Guildford. “It gives Australians the freedom to travel anywhere in Australia, knowing they have instant access to safe and secure digital health records, including care plans.”
My Health Record holds information from across the health system, from a GP uploading a shared health summary record to Medicare data, pathology and radiology reports, and hospital discharge summaries.
“People often tell me they are tired of being asked the same questions when they go to see a health professional,” said Mr Wyatt. “This can be particularly frustrating for older Australians, who may be taking a number of medications and seeing a number of doctors … and I also hear examples of older people being admitted to hospital and not receiving the medications they have been prescribed, because no one knew what they were supposed to be taking.”
He said that My Health Record placed the consumer at the centre of the system and gave them the power to add, remove and restrict access to certain information.
I signed on to it. I find that most of my medical history is not there (or at least not visible to me) & that includes a couple of hospital stays. Unfortunately a good idea that has failed/
Yes John,if it is anything like my aged care.com it will be a complete stuff up….
we signed up in 2011 when we commenced travelling full time and have since visited many Doctors and a few hospitals all over Australia and not one was using the ‘My Health Record’. While I believe people have the right to accessl their own record, being able to add, remove and restrict access to certain information might not give a true picture of health issues
Have the same problem as Jenny – I’ve been in Hospitals in Darwin, Qld, NSW all in last two years – even the ones in each State cannot access each other. My Doctor said they cannot utilise because of login problems with Govt site System won’t interface with Windows Operating Systems – Great concept most probably better off putting Health Records in Penny Wong’s filing system at least everyone seems to have access to those files.
No just let the government who sold the filing cabinets (responsible?) look after them, Penny Wong did at least leave them locked up in Parliament house.
Joined my wife and self a long time ago, had many docs visits since then nothing on our records seems like a waist of time, doctors are not keen either with the looks of it
You ran a similar story last year and I reckon you’re going to get the same type of comments about how poorly this system works. We signed up just before we tarted our traveling 4 years ago and, like Jenny and Possum, have yet to find a medical provider (either government or private) that ha signed up for the scheme. I honestly believe the current government has major problems with technology and how it works. Just look at the NBN for example.
I went into hospital for an angiogram. My Health Record now has a discharge summary that says I went into hospital and to refer to the attached document for the summary. The attached document, which isn’t in My Health Record but is in my GP’s record says, I had an angiogram. The test results are in a totally different document also not in My Health Record which says I don;t have much of a problem.
My Health Record doesn’t show either of my hip replacements, my mild hypertension, elevated cholesterol or osteopena. In fact apart from Medicare billing information (which doesn’t say anything about why I saw my doctor) and some scripts (which doen’t say why I have them), it doesn’t have anything at all, apart from one useless discharge summary.
I hope I never have to rely on it when I see a doctor. Fortunately I keep a hard copy and USB summary of my overall condition if I go traveling. Much more reliable and cheaper.
It also means the government doesn’t get to have a copy. Why they want a copy, I don’t know.
This system is not working. Like all the previous comments the information on our health records is very limited and dated. Our Dr assures us all info is recorded and noted on our e health record. What a load of rubbish the last days entry was 2014.
It is a great concept if it worked. Lets hope the system will undergo a full review identifying the problems and then solving them.
One day,(sigh).
What a colossal waste of taxpayers money!
We would be far better off carrying our medical records and personal information with us on a usb stick
When you get asked the same questions, just hand over the device.
It’s nearly useless. A lot of remote doctors don’t/can”t access it. We carry our medical files (on paper and disc) now. No problems with that because it works every time!
You can add your own notes, medications, allergies and even upload your Advanced Care Directive so your wishes are both available and followed. It might be time to encourage your GP to update your health summary and make sure it’s there for you.