Dungog residents are urged to register for an eHealth record which will allow them to access a summary of their important health information online and share that information with healthcare professionals.
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Until now, health records have usually been stored in different locations with little connection to each other, your general practitioner, specialist or hospitals.
Doctors Duncan Dew and Brendan Chaston from The Medical Practice said there are many benefits to electronic health records.
“If a patient has to go to another hospital we don’t have to duplicate tests such as CT scans, x-rays or blood tests they may already have had done,” Dr Chaston said.
“When patients get to hospital they are asked for a list of their medications, and in most cases, they don’t know what they are.
“By registering for eHealth, their complete medical history will be available.”
Dr Dew said better patient care can be provided by having this information available online.
“We can then access the patient’s information and also upload their medical records on their site,” Dr Dew said.
“It will be faster because we won’t have to spend time searching for past treatment information.
“And patients won’t have to remember the results of tests they have had done or medications they have been prescribed.
“People have to opt in themselves and we are one of the first practices in the Hunter to do it.
“Patients have a login and password to access their eHealth record and have control over which organisations can view their information.”
The Australian Government is rolling out the new electronic record system and people can now register for an eHealth record.
There are three ways to register including online at www.ehealth.gov.au, phoning 1800 723 471 or visiting a Medicare office a completing a registration form.
