Australia’s peak body for rural and remote health is urging people to embrace the My Health Record - an online summary of their health information.
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National Rural Health Alliance CEO Mark Diamond says while country people can opt out of My Health Record, he implores them not to.
“Simply put, My Health Record can save lives."
“Australians living in rural and remote areas are more likely to end up in an emergency department from from a heart attack, car accident or diabetic coma,” he said.
“If they’re unconscious, and the medical team doesn’t have access to their health history, the team may not be able to provide life saving care,” Mr Diamond said.
Country people are 25 per cent more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease. They are 40 per cent more likely to die from diabetes, and they are five times as likely to die from a road accident in remote areas.
“If you live outside a major city, you have less access to health services, and are more likely to delay getting medical treatment. That means you’re more likely to end up being hospitalised,” Mr Diamond said.
“A My Health Record means that all your important health information is at the fingertips of your doctor, nurse or surgeon,” he said.
A My Health Record will automatically be created for all Australians by year’s end, unless they opt out. The opt out period begins today and runs for three months until Monday, October 15.
Primary Health Networks (PHN) across the country will join the Australian Digital Health Agency to engage with consumers at the grass roots level.
“South Eastern NSW PHN is very pleased to be providing education opportunities to both providers and the general public about My Health Record. In the consumer arena, people will be able to have meaningful conversations with our digital health team and attend presentations to get the facts on the system,” said Andrew Gow, Acting CEO of COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN.
“We are committed to providing accurate information about what My Health Record is capable of doing so that everyone can weigh up the benefits. Most people for example don’t know that each person’s My Health Record is empty until activated by the first medical practitioner using it or the individual opening it for the first time. Any concerns about past medical history being automatically uploaded can be debunked.
“People also might be surprised to know that they can link their record to another loved ones in the case of care situations. For parents this means they can manage their kid’s account as an Authorised Representative. In the case of elderly parents, they can appoint their adult child to be a Nominated Representative to receive timely information shared by their medical practitioner.
“In our area we are going to have a mixture of stalls at community expos and events, and attendance at meetings of local community groups. If a local resident has a group they belong to that they wish to have us attend, we encourage them to contact us at digitalhealth@coordinare.org.au.”
Mr Diamond acknowledges recent reports of privacy risks associated with online health information.
“There is always a risk with online information. But the alliance is satisfied that the Australian Digital Health Agency is using the most robust security measures to safeguard people’s health records, and the risk associated with My Health Record is small.”
“I ask people to balance that small risk against the considerable advantages of My Health Record. There is simply no good reason to opt out,” Mr Diamond said.