Digital Health

Digital health is a HUGE topic. This page brings together some of the key information you need to know about digital health in WA and some opportunities to be involved in shaping this.

Electronic Medical Record Program

In 2021, Health Consumers’ Council was commissioned by the WA Department of Health to work with consumers across WA to create a Consumer Charter for an Electronic Medical Record. Following this, there was a pause in work before funding was confirmed for WA Health to continue rolling out the Digital Medical Record, and put in a second business case for a full Electronic Medical Record.

In 2023, work on WA’s Electronic Medical Record ramped up. In collaboration with the Department of Health Electronic Medical Record program team, HCC established a systemwide consumer network and consumer group as the business case was being completed. This has now been lodged.

In 2024, we will convene three public webinars on the Electronic Medical Record; the details on these will be made available here.

If you’d like you’d like to receive updates about this work, including opportunities for input, you can register to join our Electronic Medical Record Consumer Network or email info@hconc.org.au

Project Updates

February 2024

Upcoming Webinars

Patient Reported Outcome Measures and the EMR | Fri 10th May 2024, (3:30 pm  – 5:00 pm AWST)
For more details and to register, click here

Data Security and Trust with an EMR | Wed 5th June 2024 (3.30 pm-5.00 pm AWST)
For more details and to register, click here

Webinar Replays

25/07/23: presentation and interview with the Electronic Medical Record team at WA Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Digital Health?

Digital health can refer to:

  • health records being digital rather than paper-based
  • administrative interactions that occur online, such as booking, cancelling or re-scheduling appointments
  • health care delivered digitally rather than face to face (for example, via a video call)

This page brings together updates about the rapidly changing digital health projects and initiatives in WA.

What is the difference between My Health Record and an Electronic Medical Record?

While they might sound similar, your My Health Record is different to an Electronic Medical Record.

My Health Record was put in place Australia-wide in 2019, with a record created for every Australia unless they opted out. My Health Record encompasses all aspects of your health care, from the GP to hospital.

An Electronic Medical Record usually refers to your health information within the walls of a hospital, or group of hospitals. It contains information relevant to your hospital admission, but doesn’t necessarily encompass your whole health history.

Do I have a My Health Record?

A My Health Record was created for every Australian, unless you specifically opted-out of having one. If you don’t remember opting out, or you don’t know if you have a My Health Record, you probably do.

My Health Record holds all your key health information, such as immunisations, test results and imaging reports, medication information, and hospital summaries. It can be accessed by your healthcare providers at any time, including in an emergency.

You can find out more about My Health Record here.

If you don’t know if you have a My Health Record, or you’ve never looked at your My Health Record before, we recommend you take a look at what information is included. You can find out how to set up your My Health Record here.

Do we have an Electronic Medical Record in WA?

WA does not yet have an Electronic Medical Record. But we have begun the process of getting one. Some WA hospitals and health services have a forerunner to this, which is called a Digital Medical Record (see video below). The WA Government has funded the WA Department of Health to roll out a Digital Medical Record across the whole of WA.

The following video was produced in 2021 and explains the rollout plan for WA’s Electronic Medical Record.

 

Additional resources

 

 

[Last updated 01/24]