Accessing test results is no longer a problem for private pathology patients in Victoria and South Australia
Published 3 December 2020
People in Victoria and South Australia now have the option of choosing a private pathology provider that will securely upload their results to their My Health Record so they can be accessed whenever needed.
Dr Andrew Carter, pathologist and Chief Medical Officer for SDS Pathology said that reports are now uploaded to patients’ My Health Records when they have a test at a Dorevitch Pathology Collection Centre in Victoria, the Albury Region of New South Wales, and an Abbott Pathology Collection Centre in South Australia. Tests conducted by Genomic Diagnostics on behalf of Dorevitch and Abbott will also be uploaded.
“Over the coming month tests conducted for hospital patients by Dorevitch Pathology will be uploaded to My Health Record. Patients can also bring in a request form and we will share their reports with My Health Record”, he said.
There are 460 Dorevitch Pathology collection centres in Victoria and southern NSW and 30 Abbott Pathology collection centres in South Australia.
“Our members welcome access to more diagnostic information, and the My Health Record is a convenient way for most Australians to track their own health information over time. Access to reports from Australia’s large laboratory networks will make a real difference in building trust between patients and clinicians,” he said.
Amanda Cattermole, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Digital Health Agency, welcomed the connection of Dorevitch Pathology and Abbott Pathology to the My Health Record system.
“There are already more than 68 million pathology reports uploaded to the My Health Record system where they are safely and securely available for healthcare providers and patients to access them, and in October alone patients looked at nearly 180,000 of these pathology reports.”
“At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and facing social distancing requirements and lockdowns, the pathology sector saw a 40 per cent drop in testing with more than 60,000 Australians a day not getting tests vital to their healthcare. These drops in engagement could have serious risks for people’s long-term health. While pathology tests numbers are returning to pre-pandemic levels, people who missed tests are encouraged to see their GP.”
Ms Cattermole added “My Health Record allows you to keep all your important test results safe in one place, which you and your healthcare providers can access at any time to make more informed decisions about your treatment or care.”
The Agency publishes a list of pathology and diagnostic imaging providers that have the ability to upload reports to the My Health Record.
ENDS
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About the Australian Digital Health Agency
The Agency is tasked with improving health outcomes for all Australians through the delivery of digital healthcare systems, and implementing Australia’s National Digital Health Strategy – Safe, Seamless, and Secure: evolving health and care to meet the needs of modern Australia in collaboration with partners across the community. The Agency is the System Operator of My Health Record, and provides leadership, coordination, and delivery of a collaborative and innovative approach to utilising technology to support and enhance a clinically safe and connected national health system. These improvements will give individuals more control of their health and their health information, and support healthcare providers to deliver informed healthcare through access to current clinical and treatment information. Further information: www.digitalhealth.gov.au.