CHF says Action Needed on National eHealth System

Australia has already waited far too long for an effective national eHealth system, says the Consumer Health Forum's (CHF) CEO Adam Stankavicus.
He says it's been more than 10 years since government funding began in earnest and is voicing his concerns following the publication of the latest edition of the CHF's journal
“There is widespread support for the introduction of a personally-controlled electronic health record, including from consumers, medical leaders and other providers, as revealed in the latest edition of CHF’s journal  Health Voices*, published today (Monday, November 3),” says CEO Adam Stankevicius.
“An estimated $5 billion in taxpayers’ money has been spent.  Government-commissioned research found that a comprehensive system would prevent thousands of avoidable hospitalisations and save $7 billion a year.
“Yet a doctor’s group is still seeking to prevent patients getting prompt access to pathology results meant for their personal electronic health record.
“The Royal Australian College of GPs is arguing against patients learning the results of path tests on “safety” grounds, asserting that patients getting bad news before hearing it from the could be subject to “unnecessary distress”.
“We reject that claim,” Mr Stankevicius said.  “Pathology results going direct to patients is standard practice in other countries.  There may well be greater safety risks in the pathology results not being lodged immediately onto the patient’s electronic record where they might alert not only the patient but other clinicians of significant issues, particularly in emergency situations.
“The RACGP appears reluctant to yield up the doctor’s traditional authority over patient records.  It is time for the College to acknowledge that the health evolution is here and is giving patients and consumers much more capacity to have greater say about their health care and their health records.”
“CHF has pressed for the eHealth scheme to be converted from the current “opt-in” process to an opt out system in order to support a faster rollout of an effective national system, just as occurred when Medicare was introduced.
“CHF is concerned that the current funding uncertainty will allow implementation to again slip, meaning that the opt-out system will unlikely be introduced in the new year as recommended by the Government’s review,” Mr Stankevicius said.
“Why are we waiting for an evolution that has the potential to deliver greater benefits to health care than did Medicare itself?
“It’s time for those who oppose comprehensive patient-controlled electronic health records to move on or move out of the way,” Mr Stankevicius said