MyHR

By Lisa Christian

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to discuss the privacy issues related to the new, opt-in, opt-out, version of myHR. It will also describe digital platforms that other countries have that are similar to Australia.

What is My Health Record?

MyHR, is a centralised digital system, that healthcare providers will use and their patients to store and access patient health records.

The Purpose of myHR and its Major Functions

They store health information on the patient and help the healthcare provider, eg. a doctor, to plan ongoing care.

Health.gov.au, states this this is a safe way to store your health information, much safer than earlier paper based forms.

The Variety of Ways in which Privacy Considerations are Factored into myHR's Design

It uses digitally encrypted and multifactor authentication to allow only authorised people to access it, such as the patient and their doctors.

"My Health Record is a secure digital place to store your health information and records, including vaccinations, prescriptions and emergency contacts.

Anyone in Australia who is registered with Medicare or an individual healthcare identifier (IHI) can use My Health Record.

You need a myGov account to access your record.

Your My Health Record is private — it can only be seen by you, your healthcare providers and anyone else you choose to share it with.

It can be used all through your life, from birth through to adulthood and into older age and you can delete it at any time."(healthdirect, 2024.)

"The Australian Government protects the information in your My Health Record using a range of security controls.

There are also strict regulations about who can see or use your My Health Record. This protects your health information from misuse."(healthdirect, 2024.)

You can see who accesses your myHR and there is a settings sections, to give and deny access, so you maintain control, if you want.

By default, all accounts are set to general, so that all healthcare providers can access their patient's file, but you can change that if you want to.

In addition, you can set up email and/or sms notifications, for when there are updates made.

"You can take further steps to secure your information:

- Use a strong password and set up security questions or an access code.

- Check your My Health Record often using a secure connection.

- Review your My Health Record access log to see who has accessed your information.

- Turn on automatic updates on your device so your system is as secure as possible.

- Manually enter login details instead of clicking on links or attachments contained in emails. This helps you avoid scams."(healthdirect, 2024.)

Benefits of myHR

It allows coordination to access this information easily.

When information is stored where it can be retrieved instantly and searched through digitally, this allows the provider to make informed decisions quickly. It is also user friendly to sort through information, much better than reading hand writing. it is a user friendly, accessible website and app, with typed, sorted, indexed information and can be searched through with convenience.

Since the information is indexed and sorted, it allows the application to make informed predictions, using AI (artificial intelligence), to make likely guesswork of what conditions might occur next.

With information type and centralised, this allows the workflow of the healthcare provider to run more smoothly.

It is reliable, so can also be used in vital care and emergency.

"Healthcare provider benefits:

- provides immediate access to key health information

facilitates the validation and verification of clinical information

- avoid adverse medication events, provides access to allergy information

- avoids duplication of tests and diagnostic imaging

- provides immunisation details

- improves continuity of care, informs end of life care

Patient benefits:

- prompt access to key health information in an emergency

- secure, convenient access to health information

- safer, faster more efficient care

- less need to remember key aspects of their medical history and medications

- improved management of health information

- informed self-management of health conditions"(digitalhealth.gov.au, 2024)

The My Health Record App Design

The new interface of myHR, is easy to navigate app, that can be downloaded on Android or Apple.

 

(digitalhealth.gov.au, 2024)

It is just as secure at the online web version. However it allows the patient to stay uptodate and be proactive with their health by being able to access their health information, any time they want to.

The Controversy of Changing to 'Opt-out'

Opt-out, means everyone is automatically enrolled, unless they opt-out.

What are the Existing Challenges in Privacy Protection for the myHR from both a Legal and Technical Design Perspective?

If there are any ways in which myGov can be hacked, then that is how myHR could be hacked. MyGov is very secure though. However even the most intelligent systems and encrypted algorythms can be cracked, by expert hackers and sometimes identity theft has occurred online. That is less likely though, because of how high strength and secure encryption it has.

Ways in which Existing Gaps in Privacy Protection can be Implemented 

Effectively within Design of the myHR with Minimal Impact on Patient Safety

Basically, as soon as new encryption algorithms come out, the web developers can upgrade the portal to have the most recent, most secure encryption. There are a number of ways and strategies that developers can use to make web applicatons to secure. The most important factor, I feel, is staying up to date with technology, to always stay one step ahead of hackers.

Legislature and Governance

"The My Health Record system operates under the My Health Records Act 2012.

The Act establishes:

- the role and functions of the System Operator,

- a registration framework for individuals, and entities such as healthcare provider organisations, to participate in the My Health Record system,

- a privacy framework (aligned with the Privacy Act 1988) specifying which entities can collect, use and disclose certain information in the system (such as health information contained in a healthcare recipient’s My Health Record), and the penalties that can be imposed on improper collection, use and disclosure of this information."(digitalhealth.gov.au, 2024.)

This act allows some rules and edits to be changed by the Commonwealth Minister of Health.

Countries which have a National Health Record Platform Similar to Australia

Brazil -  National integrated electronic health record (EHR).

Canada - Canada Health Infoway.

China - EHR system.

Denmark - Electronic health record (EHR).

England - NHS number and electronic records.

France - Electronic health record (EHR) project (Projet dossier medical partagé).

Germany - Electronic medical chip cards.

India - EHR system.

Israel - Electronic health record (EHR) system.

Italy - The New Health Information System (Nuovo sistema informativo sanitario, or NSIS).

Japan - Electronic health record networks.

Netherlands - Electronic health records (EHRs).

New Zealand - Digital Health Work Programme 2020.

Norway - eHealth Directorate.

Singapore - National EHR.

Sweden - BankID.

Switzerland - EHealth Suisse.

Taiwan - NHI card.

United States - Electronic health record (EHR).

Conclusion

Electronic health records are popular amoung many countries seeking to become secure, with its many benefits of secure, accessible information for health care providers and patients, like Australia's myHR.

References:

CommonwealthFund, 2024. What Status are Electronic Health Records

Accessed from: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/system-features/what-status-electronic-health-records  on 2/9/24.

DigitalHealth, 2024. View my Health Record Using an App

Accessed from: https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/my-health-record/manage-your-record/view-my-health-record-using-an-app  on 2/9/24.

Digital Health, 2024. My Health Record

Accessed from: https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/healthcare-providers/initiatives-and-programs/my-health-record   on 2/9/24.

Digital Health, 2024. My Health Record Legislation and Governance

Accessed from: https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/about-us/policies-privacy-and-reporting/my-health-record-legislation-and-governance   on 2/9/24.

Health, 2024. Electronic Health Records

Accessed from: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/health-technologies-and-digital-health/about/electronic-health-records   on 2/9/24.

Healthdirect, 2024. My Health Record

Accessed from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/my-health-record  on 2/9/24. 

NLM, 2024. Improving accessibility of the Australian My Health Records while preserving privacy and security of the system

Accessed from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7544771/   on 2/9/24.

ScienceDirect, 2024. Privacy concerns of the Australian My Health Record: Implications for other large-scale opt-out personal health records

Accessed from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306457320308591   on 2/9/24.