The Alliance has taken a ‘pulse’ survey of people passionate about rural health to collate their views on the Australian Government’s My Health Record.
The majority of responders among the Alliance Friends group said they were aware of the digital service and many highlighted benefits of the platform, such as helping to overcome the barriers of distance.
CEO Gabrielle O’Kane presented the findings of the survey to the My Health Record Symposium: Progress and Possibilities online event on 17 June 2021. Friends reported benefits such as having access to up-to-date information and health data in an emergency; enabling easy access when travelling; and allowing the sharing of information between rural and remote health professionals.
One respondent said, ‘The record is authoritative, secure and I have confidence in it. It equalises the tyranny of distance – I feel the medical equal of others and just as important. I know if I travelled anywhere that any rural or city hospital/provider could access my life&death information equally’.
Concerns included privacy and data security, ease-of-use and uptake by health professionals and a lack of cultural considerations. Friends saw the opportunity for greater engagement with remote Indigenous communities, as well as education about My Health Record within the secondary school curriculum.
Our thanks to all the Alliance Friends who participated in the survey for the Australian Digital Health Agency.
In the latest upgrade to My Health Record there is a new consolidated view of immunisation details from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and the individual’s record, making it easier for health care providers to view their patients’ information when discussing COVID-19 and other vaccinations.