Topic: Digital health

Privacy Awareness Week, held earlier this month from 1 to 7 May, is an annual event which aims to raise awareness and promote best practices in privacy and data protection.

It is the responsibility of healthcare providers to ensure patient information is always kept secure and private.

The following discusses the basics of keeping patient information secure and private by having security protocols in place and protecting access to sensitive information.

Security protocols are a set of guidelines and procedures which help ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information.

Protocols are essential for protecting patient information from unauthorised access, use or disclosure.

Some basic security protocols healthcare providers should have in place include:

Access control: Access control is the process of granting or denying access to resources based on the user’s identity, role and permissions. Healthcare providers should implement access control mechanisms such as passwords, two-factor authentication and role-based access control to ensure patient information is only accessible to authorised personnel.

It is vital to keep access secure by not sharing passwords with multiple people as it can pose a significant security risk. Passwords should never be shared or reused and healthcare providers should use strong passwords which are difficult to guess.

Special attention needs to be given to your PRODA account or clinical software, every person accessing information should be identifiable and, if necessary, their access removed if they are no longer employed by the practice.

Provider Digital Access (PRODA) is an online identity verification and authentication system which lets you securely access a range of government online services for healthcare providers. Your PRODA account authorises most transactions through Medicare and will become more important as more services become digital, so protect it as you would your banking details.

Encryption: Encryption is the process of converting data into a code to prevent unauthorised access. Healthcare providers should encrypt patient information both at rest and in transit to ensure it cannot be intercepted or accessed by unauthorised parties.

It is important to note that while most clinical software programs offer encryption to protect patient information, healthcare providers must ensure they configure and use the software correctly to maintain the security and privacy of patient information.

Secure messaging is another essential tool in healthcare, as it enables healthcare providers to collaborate and communicate with each other without compromising patient privacy.

It is also important to comply with relevant regulations and standards, such as the Australian Privacy Principles and the My Health Record Act, when handling patient information.

There are several secure messaging platforms available in Australia which comply with these regulations and standards, including Argus, Medical-Objects, ReferralNet and HealthLink.

Audit trail: An audit trail is a record of all actions taken on a system or application. Healthcare providers should implement audit trails to monitor access to patient information and detect any unauthorised access or changes.

For instance, using My Health Record (MHR) creates an audit trail to identify who is accessing data and when it is accessed. This can be useful in identifying any unauthorised access or changes to patient information.

It is important to regularly review audit trails to ensure patient information is only being accessed by authorised personnel and for legitimate reasons. By implementing audit trails, healthcare providers can better protect patient information and maintain the trust of patients.

Privacy Awareness Week is a timely reminder of the importance of protecting patient information from unauthorised access, use or disclosure.

By having security protocols in place and not sharing passwords in PRODA or clinical software, and using secure messaging platforms comply with relevant regulations and standards we can ensure patient information is kept secure and private.

Let us all do our part in maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of patient information.

Set up your My Health Record Security and Access Policy with this template.

If you require help setting up any of these security protocols or untangling your PRODA account, please reach out to your PSO or the Digital Health team at DigitalHealth@swsphn.com.au.

World Health Day on Friday, 7 April, was a timely reminder of the importance of access to quality healthcare for all.

In Australia, one way we can achieve this goal is through the use of My Health Record, the electronic health record system which allows healthcare providers to access and share patients’ health information.

One of the key benefits of My Health Record is it allows for the recording of prescription information.

This information is important for ensuring patients receive the right medication at the right time, and there is no duplication or contraindication in medication.

By having access to this information, healthcare providers can work together to provide the best care for their patients.

By recording prescription information in My Health Record, GPs can help to ensure their patients receive the best possible care.

Here are some of the benefits of using My Health Record to record prescription information:

1. Easy Access to Prescription Information: With My Health Record, prescription information is stored in one place, making it easy for healthcare providers to access and share this information. This means, if a patient sees another healthcare provider, such as a specialist or pharmacist, they can access their prescription information easily.
2. Improved medication management: By having access to prescription information, healthcare providers can ensure patients are not prescribed medications which may interact with other medications. This can improve patient safety and reduce the risk of medication-related errors.
3. Improved communication between providers: By sharing prescription information through My Health Record, healthcare providers can communicate more effectively and ensure patients receive coordinated care leading to better health outcomes for patients.

Improving the way people engage with their health information by making it easily accessible and simple to see, store and share documents right at their fingertips can help facilitate greater engagement and clarity throughout the entirety of their health and wellness journey.

Learn more about My Health at www.digitalhealth.gov.au/myhealth

Download the app from iOS and Android app stores by searching for “my health gov”.

National Advance Care Planning Week (20 to 26 March) highlights the importance of creating an advance care plan and the benefits of using My Health Record for recording advance care plans.

An advance care plan is a document which outlines a person’s values, beliefs and preferred treatments in case of an emergency or if they are unable to make decisions for themselves.

Why create an advance care plan?

It allows patients to take control of their healthcare decisions and ensure their wishes are respected, even in emergency situations. Identifying patients who would benefit from an advance care plan can include:

• Age: Patients who are older or have a chronic medical condition may benefit from an advance care plan.
• Health status: Patients who have a serious medical condition, are facing end-of-life issues, or have a life-limiting illness may benefit from an advance care plan.
• Family history: Patients with a family history of serious medical conditions or a history of unexpected events may benefit from an advance care plan.
• Medical history: Patients with a history of hospitalisation, multiple medical treatments or multiple chronic medical conditions may benefit from an advance care plan.
• Personal values and beliefs: Patients who have strong religious or cultural beliefs or who have a personal preference for certain medical treatments may benefit from an advance care plan.

Advantages of having an advance care plan in My Health Record

• Respect for autonomy: Allows individuals to take control of their healthcare decisions, even if they are unable to speak for themselves.
• Improved medical care: Clear understanding of a patient’s values, beliefs and preferred treatments leads to care which is consistent with the patient’s wishes.
• Reduced stress for loved ones: Aids in alleviating stress for family members who may have to make tough decisions without knowing the patient’s wishes.
• Better outcomes: When a patient’s advance care plan is followed, they are more likely to receive the care they want, leading to better outcomes and a higher quality of life.

Access to an up-to-date advance care plan can improve patient care, ensure better coordination of care between providers and increase accessibility to essential information in emergency situations.

To record an advance care plan in My Health Record, medical practitioners need to:

• Obtain patient consent
• Create a document which outlines the patient’s wishes
• Share the document with authorised healthcare providers
• Regularly review and update the document to ensure it reflects the patient’s current wishes

It is important to discuss advance care planning with all patients to empower patients to take control of their healthcare decisions, and ensure their wishes are respected, especially in emergency situations or if they are unable to speak for themselves.

February is Heart Health Month, a perfect time to raise awareness about the importance of heart health and to encourage people to take steps to improve their heart health.

In Australia, telehealth is playing an increasingly important role in the management of chronic heart disease, providing patients with access to innovative tools and technologies which help them monitor their health and make informed decisions about their care.

One of the biggest trends in telehealth is remote monitoring with advances in wearable technology and sensors.

Patients with chronic heart disease can now track their vital signs and health data from anywhere, at any time.

This real-time information is transmitted to physicians, who can use it to monitor patients’ conditions and respond quickly to prevent the progression of their condition.

Wearable technology from smartwatches to heart-rate monitors, “wearables”, are providing patients with real-time health data they can use to monitor their heart health and make lifestyle changes.

This data is also transmitted to physicians, who can use it to monitor patients’ progress and make more informed decisions about their care.

Another trend in telehealth is the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

These technologies are being used to analyse large amounts of data from patients’ electronic health records, wearables, and other sources, to identify patterns and trends which could indicate heart disease.

This data is used to create more personalised treatment plans and to predict and prevent heart attacks and other heart-related events, including hospital admissions for acute heart failure.

Virtual visits are also becoming increasingly popular, allowing patients to connect with physicians from the comfort of their own homes, without having to travel to a physical office or clinic.

This not only saves time and money but also reduces the risk of exposure to infections and other illnesses, which is especially important for patients with chronic heart disease.

Virtual visits also allow physicians to monitor patients more frequently, which is critical in the management of chronic heart disease.

In recognition of Heart Health Month in February, it is important to highlight the role telehealth is playing in improving heart health outcomes in Australia.

With the use of remote monitoring, artificial intelligence, virtual visits and wearable technology, physicians are now better equipped than ever before to provide high-quality, patient-centered care which promotes heart health and prevents heart-related events.

By taking advantage of these innovative technologies, we can help ensure all Australians with chronic heart disease receive the care and support they need to live healthy, heart-healthy lives.

If you have questions about digital health, please contact our Digital Health team: