The Lock and Key to My Health Records Privacy Features

Privacy Awareness Week took place from 13-19 May 2018. With the Australian Government’s recent announcements on secondary use of data and the My Health Record (MyHR) opt out period, MyHR privacy and security is on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

The MyHR opt-out period will be for three months commencing 16 July 2018. This will be followed by a 30-day reconciliation period. Every Australian will get a My Health Record unless they tell the government they don’t want one during the opt-out period.

As a healthcare provider, you are at the frontline of patient and consumer questions, so you have the best ability to answer and direct people where to find more information.

There are a number of settings within MyHR that will help to enhance information security and maintain an individual’s privacy when they and others are accessing this data. There are also many safeguards in place to protect the information held in the MyHR system such as:

• Strong encryption
• Firewalls
• Secure login/authentication mechanisms
• Audit logging

The ability to access information held within a MyHR is controlled by the individual:

• applying restricted access to healthcare information or clinical documents;
• adjusting the settings for individuals, healthcare providers and documents;
• providing access to nominated representatives such as a family member acting as a carer.

Three types of codes can be set to change level of access to record information:

• Record Access Code (RAC) – to restrict access to the whole record.
• Limited Document Access Code (LDAC) – to restrict access to specific documents.
• Personal Access Code (PAC) – to allow a nominated representative to have access.

TIPS:

• For concerns about privacy or security, or that of children, you can contact the MyHR helpline on 1800 723 471 for advice.
• To restrict access to MyHR, individuals can do this at www.myhealthrecord.gov.au or by calling the MyHR helpline on 1800 723 471.
• If the person can’t speak English well, they can call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50.
• If an individual needs to change their personal information with Medicare they can call Medicare on 132 011 or go online at www.my.gov.au.
• An individual can register for a MyHR using a pseudonym.

For more information visit www.myhealthrecord.gov.au or contact the North Coast Primary Health Network My Health Record Team on (02) 6618 5400.