NEHTA develops iPhone application to show patient journey
NEHTA has developed an iPhone application to show how doctors could access a patient’s record easily with eHealth records including X-ray results and allergies, making diagnosis quicker and safer.
The simulation shows a patient journey of a man, Mr Frank Harding, and his wife travelling interstate with interaction with multiple health services as they holiday. (See graphics below)
At a press conference after opening the national Revolutionising Australia’s Health Care conference in Melbourne in November, Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said new technology is driving how healthcare will be delivered in the future in Australia.
“The iPhone app is in the concept stage, but is a good example of how we can harness technology to help health professionals deliver better patient outcomes,” she said.
If they opt in to the personally controlled electronic health records (PCEHR) system, patients will be able to present for treatment anywhere in Australia, and give permission for health professionals to access their relevant history at the touch of a button. Patients will no longer have to remember every detail of their care history and retell it to every care provider they see. Healthcare consumers tell us the ability to make their records portable and accessible is one of the most attractive features of having a PCEHR.
