Eastern Melbourne PHN’s Digital Health Team is helping practices to implement My Health Record in their work flows.
Sarah Gregorio, Practice Manager at Mooroolbark Medical Centre, has had success with implementing My Health Record at her practice, meeting targets set by the Commonwealth Department of Health and having the process embraced by staff.
“The practice has gone from having no shared health summaries uploaded to more than meeting the requirements,” Ms Gregorio said.
The Commonwealth Department of Health has set a minimum upload target of 0.5% of the practice’s standardised whole patient equivalent (SWPE) to be eligible for the eHealth Incentive payment.
Ms Gregorio said there were some key aspects to the implementation process which were important to its success.
The implementation process included:
- A workflow chart that outlines responsibilities;
- A brief patient permission form for patients (including a tear off section which informs the receptionist to create a My Health Record before the GP consultation starts);
- Information about My Health Record for patients; and
- A script for receptionists to explain My Health Record to patients.
“When you explain it to the patients in simple terms they are really receptive.”
“One patient said her child had to go into hospital and the she could not remember which of her children had which allergies so the hospital was able to access the information. The parent was back at the clinic the following week asking for a My Health Record for all of her children.”
“The hardest part has been convincing the doctors that it doesn’t take too long,”
“Once you show them how it’s done, they are much more
receptive,” she said.
“One of the older doctors who is almost at retirement age and was reluctant to
do the Shared Health summaries is now showing the younger doctors how to.”
Ms Gregorio explained My Health Record has become engrained in the work culture of the practice.
“The goal is that staff have to recruit one patient per day; some days they will have more than others; to register for My Health Record this has become part of their performance management,” Ms Gregorio said.
For more information on implementing My Health Record at your practice, please contact EMPHN’s Digital Health Team via digitalhealth@emphn.org.au or on (03) 9046 0300.