Australians show strong support for e-health records
7 November, 2008. A national opinion poll has shown Australians support the introduction of an Individual Electronic Health Record (IEHR) and would agree to their medical records being included in the service.
The poll, conducted on behalf of the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA), showed 82 percent of respondents believe an IEHR would save lives and improve health services by having important medical information immediately accessible.
In addition 77 percent of the 2,700 people surveyed across Australia indicated they would want their records added to the service.
"This research confirms Australians endorse the use of electronic health records if they are introduced with all the necessary levels of privacy and security," said NEHTA Chief Executive Peter Fleming.
The poll also indicated that Australians feel strongly about choice in relation to the IEHR.
Seventy eight per cent of respondents believed the IEHR service should be voluntary.
Security and safety around the electronic storage of medical information was also a key consideration with 79 percent indicating it was important any future IEHR offers patients the ability to quarantine sensitive or very personal medical information.
An IEHR would be achieved by a national standardisation of technologies which would enable doctors, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, General Practitioners and pharmacies to electronically send and receive accurate clinical communications, irrespective of the State or Territory in which they are located.
NEHTA is currently working on projects such as unique healthcare identification, clinical terminologies and message security, which will form the foundations of a private and secure IEHR for the future.