This release appeared a few days ago:
Consultation begins on My Health Record Guidelines
January 29, 2018
Consultation has started on the My Health Record Guidelines for Pharmacists developed by the peak national body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
The Guidelines provide guidance to pharmacists on meaningful clinical use of the My Health Record system.
By the end of 2018, all Australians will have a My Health Record unless they choose not to have one.
Pharmacists have a professional responsibility to review their practice and, where necessary, build on their digital health competency to ensure they are ready to integrate use of the My Health Record system into patient care.
During the public consultation, PSA welcomes comments from interested individuals and organisations including members of the pharmacy profession as well as consumers, other health professional groups and practitioners, educators, researchers and government bodies.
The consultation paper can be accessed at the PSA website. Please review the consultation paper first then provide feedback through the consultation survey.
Consultation will be open until Tuesday 20 February 2018.
Any queries regarding this consultation can be emailed to digitalhealth@psa.org.au
Here is the link:
While not totally easy to find there is 50 page consultation document found at this link:
This document has been created with funds from and assistance from the ADHA.
What I found most interesting is that there is no real discussion of the workload using the myHR will impose on pharmacists. It seems to me even if only 10% of patient records are reviewed there will be a lot of time consumed given the granular nature of myHR records (you have to access them serially etc.) No mention of how this will be paid for that I noticed. In places like Chemist�s Warehouse this time loss may really matter.
There is discussion of security and privacy but who at an outlet will have access to the myHR and what they need to do in the case of sensitive information is not clear. More work on looking at real pharmacist workflows and how it actually will fit is needed I suspect.
Here is the executive summary:
Executive summary
The My Health Record has been designed to allow the secure sharing of patient health information via an electronic platform. [1]
From the pharmacist�s perspective, this greater access to patient health information may:
� enable more efficient and effective medication reconciliation
� enhance their contribution to the quality use of medicines
� improve continuity of patient care.
The ability for pharmacists to contribute patient health information to the My Health Record (i.e. dispensing records) may also enhance communication with other healthcare providers caring for their patients, and improve health outcomes.
These Guidelines do not replace the need for pharmacists to exercise professional discretion and judgement when using the My Health Record. These Guidelines do not include clinical information or detailed legislative requirements. At all times, pharmacists delivering these programs must comply with all relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation, as well as program-specific standards, codes, and rules.
-----
This does not add much rather is notable for the uncertainty in the benefits flowing from use of the myHR.
The expectation of changes of practice in the absence of some decent trials using the working system to see what it adds would have to be worthwhile � but don�t seem to be contemplated. I wonder why?
The PSA�s National President is a very strong advocate for the my HR and that may be related:
See here for his views:
More haste, less speed and a bit more evidence might be a good idea in my view. The Guidelines still need some work and to address some of the more difficult issues head on.
Patients should also be rather wary of random pharmacists in the big chains just opening their myHR�s willy-nilly. I reckon and to me this is another reason to consider opting out.
David.
No comments:
Post a Comment