Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Share for Care electronic health record?

   A Share for Care electronic health record allows health professionals directly involved in your care to access relevant information electronically, via a secure internet link, to provide you with safe, effective health care outside of your general practice. The technology used to make this happen is called ManageMyHealth.

2. How will I benefit by sharing the health information outlined above?

   A Share for Care record allows your other health professionals to have access to the summary of your general practice health record. This will improve the care you receive. It may also mean that you won't need tests to be done a second time when it's not necessary.

3. Could my health team access my health records if they needed to?

   Your health team has many members, including general practice, hospital, allied health, pharmacy and some mental health staff. All these staff can at times have a role in keeping you well.

   Your main health records are held at your general practice, but often other members of the team need that information to ensure that they make, following discussion with you, the best decisions for your care.

   Opting in to Share for Care gives those health professionals involved in your care access to your key health information when they need it, to help give you the best care possible.

4. What relevant health information is included in the Share for Care record?

   The Share for Care record contains information such as your long term health problems, as well as a list of health problems from the last six months, your long term medications as well as medications prescribed in the last six months, drug allergies, your immunisation record, hospital discharge summaries and laboratory and radiology results.

5. What key health information is excluded from the Share for Care record?

   Clinical notes that your GP, rural nurse and practice nurse have typed in to their computer regarding your visits will not be included. If you have any sensitive health issues that you do not want shared please discuss this with your GP or practice nurse.

6. How do I know that access to my health information will not be misused?

   Signed consent from you authorises relevant health professionals directly involved in your care to access your information. In addition, all health professionals will have their access audited. If they are found to be abusing the system they will face disciplinary action.

7. What do I do if I do not want to participate in Share for Care?

   You need to sign the Opt-out form and return it by hand or post to your general practice. You may wish to discuss your choice with your general practitioner or rural or practice nurse so that you will be fully informed of the implications of your decision.

   Share for Care will commence on November 30, 2011. If you choose to opt-out of Share for Care you need to return your opt-out form to your general practice by November 29, 2011 to ensure none of your information is uploaded into the system and it will not be possible to share any information with other health care providers outside of your general practice even in an emergency.

   Your health records at your general practice will not be affected.

8. What if I change my mind and want to share my information after I have originally said no?

   You can talk to your general practice team and sign back on to the system at any time, so that your information is available to other health care providers in the future.

9. What if I change my mind and don't want to share my information after I have originally said yes?

   You have the right to cancel your Consent Form for Release of Shared Electronic Health Record (or the 'old' opt-in form). You must inform your general practice of this decision. Only medical information that is created after you have cancelled your consent will not be included in this shared information. Medical information that was present prior to you deciding to cancel your consent will remain.