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eHealth Records Will Soon Include Pathology and Diagnostic Imaging Results

Pathology and diagnostic imaging results will be uploaded to e-Health records following an $8 million investment by the Federal Government.

Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, said it will mean things like a patient’s blood test and x-ray results could be stored securely online as part of their own personal eHealth record.

“We expect both doctors and patients will find the new functionality useful, as it will reduce the need for them to chase down results or duplicate tests. “In an emergency, having this kind of information on a patient’s eHealth record could save lives.”

Both patients and healthcare professionals will be able to access results uploaded to a record.

Planning and design work associated with upgrading medical software will be undertaken with the governemtn grant.

“This work will pave the way for x-ray and MRI images themselves to be stored on a patient’s eHealth record in the future,” Ms Plibersek said.

“It’s been just over a year since the national eHealth records system started, and already around 520,000 patients are on board – exceeding Government targets.

The new functionality is expected to roll out in the first half of 2014. The Government’s national eHealth records system started on 1 July 2012.

A patient’s eHealth record on the Government’s national system can now hold:

•           A summary of the patient’s important medical history

•           A list of medications prescribed and dispensed

•           Allergy information

•           Childhood immunisation records

•           Child health and development information

•           Hospital discharge reports

•           Organ donor status

•           Advanced care planning details

•           Summaries of individual patient health events

•           Medicare and PBS claims data, and

•           Private notes patients make about their own health

In June 2013,  the Government also launched the first smartphone app to link to the national eHealth records system – the child eHealth app.

Registration for an eHealth record is completely free and can be done online at www.ehealth.gov.au

 

 

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Alana Lowes

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