It Seems The Mainstream Media Has Noticed The #myHealthRecord Is A Flop!

This appeared this morning – from the SMH and The Age among others.

Australians shun My Health Record with only 9 per cent ever logging in

By Dana McCauley

December 21, 2019 — 9.00pm

Patients, medical specialists and pathologists are shunning the federal government's $1.7 billion My Health Record system with only a small minority accessing the digital health records almost a year into its rollout.

Less than one in 10 Australians with a My Health Record have ever logged in to access their digital health record, federal health bureaucrats revealed in data supplied last week in response to questions taken on notice at a Senate estimates hearing.

Most Australians are not using their My Health Records.

Only 4 per cent of Australians with a My Health Record, most of them enrolled automatically when the opt-out system began on January 31, have accessed their digital health record more than once, while just 8 per cent of specialist practices are connected to the system.

Of the 23 million people with a My Health Record, the data shows 91 per cent – 21.13 million people – have never accessed their record.

Melbourne hand surgeon Jillian Tomlinson said even those connected were not reaping benefits due to incompatibilities between the practice software used by medical specialists and the My Health Record system.

"Most public hospitals still don't have connectivity," Dr Tomlinson said.

"I can connect to it, but it's not something I'm usually able to rely on to find useful information ... Not many radiology or pathology results are uploaded."

The official data showed only 41 per cent of pathology and diagnostic imaging services were connected to My Health Record on October 27. Nearly 90 per cent of GPs were connected, as were 90 per cent of pharmacies, 94 per cent of public hospitals and 33 per cent of private hospitals.

Lots more here:

https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal/australians-shun-my-health-record-with-only-9-per-cent-ever-logging-in-20191220-p53lz0.html

The killer paragraph to me is this:

“Only 4 per cent of Australians with a My Health Record, most of them enrolled automatically when the opt-out system began on January 31, have accessed their digital health record more than once, while just 8 per cent of specialist practices are connected to the system.”

Just when is the ADHA and the Government going to accept the #myHealthRecord is an expensive, unwanted and failed programme and stop it?

There is no doubt the funds would be better spent improving connectivity and interoperability and supporting the private sector to provide what clinicians and patients actually need and want!

Do you reckon with all the recent leadership changes there is any chance of common sense prevailing?

David.