My Health Record

[RooFlyer]

Most would have heard that the new National 'My Health Record' is coming on line soon, and that you need to 'opt out' in the next three months if you don't want to be in it. I've just spent some time with my GP where this came into play and I though I'd share it, as it was quite different from what I was expecting.

I thought that my records would be on-line unless I opted out, with no other input for me. But as far as I and my GP were concerned, this isn't the case.

He opened up My Health Record, and there was nothing in it. I had to approve, looking at his screen, each category and item of the records they had on me for uploading. He ticked them and after again asking me f I was OK with those records going 'up', he did a 'send'.

Even if you OK everything, its not everything in their records. There are 5 categories - vaccinations, 'serious conditions' (my words), pathology, prescribed medicines and allergies. Basically, as he explained to me, what a hospital in Sydney would like to know if you present to them unconscious and they need to treat you there and then. Not wasting perhaps valuable time (and yes, money) in doing tests to confirm something already in my record, so they can get straight to the guts of it.

Personally, I don't have the slightest problem with the database. I know its not the same for everyone, but I simply wouldn't care if the world got to know that I have galloping pox. (Ooops … see what I mean ). I do care about having the best chance at getting the best outcomes if I present somewhere and I either couldn't tell them my history, or, as likely, couldn't remember exactly when such-and-such occurred.

And the fact that everyone is given the chance to simply opt-out means I don't understand what all the palaver is about. Don't like it? Opt out.

But I wonder if my GP's treatment of my data (sitting down with me and selecting stuff) is different from the norm? Maybe after 3 months it all gets sucked up in a rush?

 

[kpc]

I opted out. Once misinformation gets into the system, it is very difficult to change / correct, and may prejudice your future treatment. That's what families are for....to provide your heath information if you can't . Speaking from personal and professional experience, I don't think anyone under my care had died because I didn't have immediate access to all their medical records. ps....and it is also giving a free kick to all the insurance providers out there looking for any reason to reject a claim!

 

[2infinity]

I've tried to opt out, but it appears that there was a pilot for the My Health program in Cairns and Blue Mountains and everyone is those areas is already in. I have to go through a lot of faluffle to try and get my profile deleted. My case has been triple escalated and awaiting a call back. What ticks me off is if you don't opt out by D day, you are in the system FOREVER. Opting out after D Day WILL NOT DELETE your record. The worse part is I'm an adult and I have a choice, but kids have no choice. If their parents fail to opt them out for whatever reason, they are there FOREVER and they don't even get the choice even once they turn 18.

 

[RooFlyer]

@kpc , can you confirm or not if my experience will be typical of those who want to include their data? ie sit-down with GP and agree with what's 'uploaded'?.

Also, not arguing the toss over wrong info - yes, that is a big issue in big databases - but I thought one of the advantages was that you COULD see the data in the record and correct it (or get GP to correct it) if it was wrong? Also, as I said, my GP and I went through each item and I OKed each.

I'm afraid if I was rushed unconscious to St Vincent's in Sydney, with a locked phone in my pocket, the time for them to discover my siblings spread around Tasmania I'd be long past the time for optimal treatment. Better (for me) for a few taps on the keyboard and they can treat me fully informed.

But as I mentioned, everyone will have different approaches. Oh, and anyone on Facebook might well consider before they complain about 'big data'.

 

[Pushka]

I have been online with My Health Records for over a year. Consented to the Drs Clinic to upload stuff. There is nothing in it. I emailed then a few months ago asking what the point of it was.

 

[kpc]

@RooFlyer: I'm not 100% certain of all the "ins and outs" of My Health Record. I thought the info from anyone eg hospitals, specialists, pharmacists etc will be added automatically (correct me if I'm wrong) to the record (linked by Medicare number) if you don't opt out. Will GPs have the time to go through the record with all their patients (yours may be an exception) and correct all the mistakes? I know the hospital records are littered with wrong information which are continuously propagated without correction, occasionally to the patient's detriment.

If you were brought into St Vincent's emergency as an unknown, unconscious male, you will be kept alive if possible (by mechanical ventilation etc), reversible causes for your unconscious state would be looked for, and there will be attempts to contact your family (if we knew who you were) to find more about your medical history. If there was access to your health record (and that is if we knew who you were), this may be very helpful but I don't think that will be the deal breaker in your care. Professionally, I love the concept of My Health Record but personally I don't, and hence opted out!! I know a lot of my colleagues are opting out as we are a secretive lot....

 

[RooFlyer]

I did suggest to my GP that this was a bit of a waste of his time … I think I saw a surreptitious nod of agreement.

 

[Guvner]

An astute medical professional would likely conduct their own tests for galloping pox, rather than rely on the currency and accuracy of the data in My Health.

From a different perspective to the point I make above, in my professional life I work in a consulting cyber security role for the Federal Govt, and I am definitely opting out. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I opted out yesterday. No brainier really. If the government is forcing you to do something there's always something fishy in my books.

And you should be in no doubt that once the data exists you can be sure it will be misused somehow. Insurance companies anyone? Employers? Other government departments? Incredibly naive to think that your data is safe and/or will not be misused.

 

[Hvr]

and it is also giving a free kick to all the insurance providers out there looking for any reason to reject a claim!

This is a huge issue that wont be fully understood until people are denied insurance based on irrelevant medical records.

Also, the issue of employers wanting to sit in on a medical examination for a worker's compensation claim will be rendered moot. To the ultimate detriment of the employee.

That is of course if you can even get a job if you have anything on your medical record that would give an employer any reason to deny you the job.

Whilst Centrelink doesn't currently have access rest assured that mission creep will soon see it as a precondition of getting benefits.

 

[get me outta here]

I have heard that the weakness is often at the Drs surgery too. A GP I know has no virus check and no password. The 2 person surgery has already been held to ransom once and a lot of results disappeared.

I too opted out. Nothing is secure. I suspect opting out wont 'cover' you either.

 

[burmans]

I have a lawyer friend who advises a lot in the privacy/data governance space, and in fact just did a 20 minute interview on the Law Report on Radio National which touched on this. He sent me through the below which is quite a good read and a fairly balanced summary of the for and against case. For the record he's probably going to say no himself

This article raises some concerns:

https://theconversation.com/my-health-record-the-case-for-opting-out-99302

But can be balanced against this:

https://theconversation.com/my-health-record-the-case-for-opting-in-99850

 

[RooFlyer]

An astute medical professional would likely conduct their own tests for galloping pox, rather than rely on the currency and accuracy of the data in My Health.

From a different perspective to the point I make above, in my professional life I work in a consulting cyber security role for the Federal Govt, and I am definitely opting out. Draw your own conclusions.

​

Seriously, you would try to re-establish all relevant diagnoses, allergies etc for yourself, rather than relying on a health record? You'd test me for penicillin independently etc? Wasted time and $ in my view.

I'm aware that many in the security type work naysay this thing - and I respect that. But then I say - well, what are the risks, and actual consequences of a data hack? I know everyone has different 'tolerances', but for me the consequence would be that everyone knows my health status. I don't want it out there, but if it is, I don't care. I know its on my local GP's and chemist's server etc and I reckon that's a lot less secure than the National database. And like I said, you can probably look after yourself, but anyone one Facebook … do you wonder about the risks of a data hack there? Or do you do an intelligent advantages/disadvantages assessment and decide that, on balance, its OK?

I'm not on Facebook, but I will be on My Health Record. YMMV.

 

[Guvner]

"Hackers" are more likely to alter your records than read them, and I could think of myriad reasons why they would want to.

 

[Dr Ralph]

"Hackers" are more likely to alter your records than read them, and I could think of myriad reasons why they would want to.

Agree. And this is probably worse than your data simply being seen by the 'wrong' people.

 

[Pushka]

I have a medical condition that should I bump my head I could have a brain bleed eg in a car accident. If I break a rib I could bleed internally uncontrolled. There is no way an ‘astute’ Dr could know that through their own tests as the tests for my condition takes a few days. I’m very much at risk if I was unconscious. I wear a medic alert bracelet that has limited but important info. I’m glad this system is in.

 

[RooFlyer]

"Hackers" are more likely to alter your records than read them, and I could think of myriad reasons why they would want to.

Yes, appreciate that. So what do you do about possible breaches to your tax records (all cross linked to your bank etc details), your private health insurance records, your social security records, the medical records held at the doctor's surgery etc etc etc, your credit card records, your hospital records (and its a long list of 'etc'). Your pharmac_ purchases have been on the earlier version of this database for years, I understand. I reckon a bunch of dedicated hackers would target the tax office and their/your/my records to enrich themselves. I'm worried about that.

I've no doubt that there will be data breaches at some time and there may be consequences. But as I mentioned up-thread, I think everyone needs to weigh the risks of doing vs not doing, and then look at if that really matters that much, rather than 'oh it can't be secure so I'm not doing it', or, the tinfoil hat - type pushback (not you Guvner - and I like how that sounds ) - as in its about some nasty gov'mint at work.

Edit: lets add our passport details, full images of same lodged at umpteen foreign embassies and consulates. Wonder if that assists hackers ; airlines know all out passport and personal details, and Qantas about to have my face recognition details!

Against all that other stuff that's out there already and hackable, I think my health details pale into comparison and

I judge MHR to have some real benefits, in exchange for the risk of a data breach.

​

 

[kpc]

Looks like many are opting out:
E-health withdrawals won't sink system: PM

 

[burmans]

I have a medical condition that should I bump my head I could have a brain bleed eg in a car accident. If I break a rib I could bleed internally uncontrolled. There is no way an ‘astute’ Dr could know that through their own tests as the tests for my condition takes a few days. I’m very much at risk if I was unconscious. I wear a medic alert bracelet that has limited but important info. I’m glad this system is in.

I think this is very valid, my friend who is the legal professional in this area and is thinking of opting out has a partner with a condition that should be alerted to Doctors so is recommending they opt in.

 

[amaroo]

Out, out, out .... IMHO