My Health Record guidelines available

My Health Record guidelines for residential aged care have been unveiled this week at a technology conference in Sydney.

The guidelines were launched during a presentation by the Australian Digital Health Agency at the Aged Care Digital & Technology Transformation Forum at the Star Event Centre on Tuesday.

In development since 2021, the guidelines have been established by a specifically tasked working group that included ADHA, Aged Care Industry Information Technology Council, the recently merged provider peak bodies Leading Age Services Australia and Aged & Community Services Australia, Allied Health Professions Australia, and the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Foundation.

The residential aged care guidelines follow a recommendation from the royal commission calling for the universal adoption of My Health Record – and other digital technologies including a care management system that includes electronic medication management and interoperability with My Health Record – across the sector.

My Health Record is a national centralised system that collates clinical information uploaded by a range of stakeholders – including general practitioners, hospitals, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.

Following an opt-out period in 2019, digital health records were created for all Australians – including aged care residents.

The My Health Record guidelines for residential aged care are contained in a 69-page document published by ACIITC, which states: “Aged care providers should be using the My Health Record system to support resident healthcare. Paper-based systems are outdated, and can lead to inefficiencies and errors, for example, during the transfer of residents between residential aged care and hospital settings.

“Participation in the My Health Record system has the potential to result in a safer, more efficient, and more comprehensive transfer of critical information relating to a resident’s relevant care and medical history.”

Among the information contained in the guidelines document:

• legislation and legal obligations
• workflow and practices
• complaints and management
• privacy and security.

The guidelines are designed to introduce aged care providers to the benefits and uses of My Health Record in aged care settings.

My Health Record is particularly useful in gathering relevant information:

• in the event of a medical emergency
• during times of transition, such as between hospital and aged ccare
• when a resident is no longer able to express their care needs.

The system will also allow aged care workers to spend more time with residents and less time trawling for clinically relevant information.

Among the health information accessible through My Health Record:

• MBS and PBS history
• shared health summaries
• advance care planning documents and custodian information
• hospital discharge summaries
• medicines information
• pathology and diagnostic imaging reports
• allergies and adverse drug reactions.

However, as the ACIITC document makes clear: “My Health Record is not designed to replace existing clinical information systems.” Aged care providers will still need to continue to keep resident records at the local level, the authors add.

The guidelines are available – upon registration – to download here.

Meanwhile, ACIITC and ADHA are providing an online overview of the guidelines next month:

• 8 June 11am-12pm AEST – register here.
• 16 June 12pm-1pm AEST – register here.

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