Great To See One Government Agency Providing Marketing Services For Another - Hardly A Balanced Statement IMVHO

This appeared in my inbox this morning:

AHPRA Email – Sent 25 February

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is sending you this important information on behalf of the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency). The information in this email belongs to the Agency, which is responsible for it.
Dear David More,
Between 16 July 2018 and 31 January 2019, Australians had the opportunity to choose to have a My Health Record or to opt-out if they did not want a record created for them.

Strengthened privacy protections

On 26 November 2018, the Australian Parliament passed new laws to strengthen My Health Record privacy protections.
These new laws mean your patients can now choose to have a My Health Record or permanently delete it at any time in their life.
The stronger laws prohibit the release of health information in your patient’s My Health Record for any non-healthcare related uses, including for insurance or pre-employment purposes, and there are increased criminal penalties for unauthorised access.
There are also stronger privacy protections for minors. When a minor turns 14, their parents are now automatically removed from having access to their record. If the minor would like a parent or guardian or other trusted person to have access to their record, they can add them as a nominated representative.

Start a conversation with your patients about My Health Record today

Many of your patients will benefit from having a digital record of their key healthcare information that is accessible by their treating health practitioner. In particular, this will help people who have complex health conditions, young families, or those who see several healthcare providers.
Find out how to view and upload information to your patient’s My Health Record.
Your patients need to use their myGov account to link to their My Health Record. They can visit my.gov.au to access their myGov account, or to set one up. They can visit MyHealthRecord.gov.au to find out more, or if they need extra support with using their record, they can call our Help line on 1800 723 471.
A range of factsheets, brochures, posters and other materials are available for download from the Agency website to support you in your conversations with your patients.

Many clinical providers are now connected

Many clinical providers are already using the My Health Record system, with more than 80% of general practices and pharmacies, 75% of public hospitals and health services, and 64% of private hospitals and clinics already registered.
For information specific to using My Health Record in your area of practice, see the health practitioner section of the Agency website or call the Help line on 1800 723 471 for further information. If you need support registering, or getting familiar with the My Health Record system, you can access online training and face-to-face training.

Managing your patient information using My Health Record

My Health Record does not replace your obligation to keep your own accurate and up-to-date records, and it does not change your existing duty of care. You are not obliged to upload information on a patient to their My Health Record, and you retain discretion as to whether certain information, for example - a diagnosis - is uploaded. It is best practice to discuss this in consultation with your patient. The Agency has confirmed that your indemnity cover will not be affected on the basis of whether or not you upload information to a patient’s record.

Consultation - National My Health Record communication campaign

The Agency is working closely with clinical and consumer groups and experts to shape a My Health Record national consumer and healthcare provider information campaign which will commence mid-2019. If you would like to be part of this consultation please contact MHRconsultation@digitalhealth.gov.au.

For more information

For enquiries, please contact the Agency or call the Helpline on 1800 723 471.
Clinical Professor Meredith Makeham BMed(Hons) MPH(Hons) PhD FRACGP
Chief Medical Advisor
Australian Digital Health Agency

Why am I receiving this information?

This communication has been sent to you by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) on behalf of the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency). AHPRA has not provided your email address or other personal information to the Agency for the purposes of this mail out.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
G.P.O. Box 9958 | Melbourne VIC 3001 | www.ahpra.gov.au

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the named addressee. If you have received this email in error or you are not the named addressee notify the sender immediately and delete this email. Do not disseminate, distribute or copy this email. If you are not the named addressee disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.

---- End e-mail.

Ignoring the threats of hellfire and damnation I thought readers here would like to see what the AHPRA is up to.

Note there are one or two claims here that some may contest and in the interest of balance I wonder why the 2.5 million who opted-out seem not to be mentioned. This is ADHA marketing using a mailing list it has no right to be spamming every doctor in the country with IMVHO.

Next every doctor will have to prove they are using the junk myHR technology I guess?

David.