Improved access to pathology and diagnostic reports on My Health Record
20 September 2023
The Australian Department of Health and Aged Care and the Australian Digital Health Agency are working to improve the accessibility of pathology and diagnostic imaging results on My Health Record.
What is changing?
There are two changes planned to improve access to patients’ pathology and diagnostic imaging information:
- Pathology and diagnostic imaging providers will be required to upload patients’ reports onto their My Health Record.
- Removal of the 7-day delay of report availability on My Health Record, allowing patients to have quicker access to their pathology and diagnostic results.
When and how will the government implement these changes?
- By 30 June 2024, diagnostic imaging and pathology providers will be required to share patients’ reports to My Health Record by default.
- By December 2024, diagnostic imaging and pathology providers will have a legal obligation to upload reports to patients’ My Health Record (see the exemptions below).
- By 2024 (implementation timeframe TBC), the 7-day delay for patients to access their new diagnostic imaging and pathology will be removed. They will be able to access the results as soon as diagnostic imaging and pathology providers upload them to My Health Record.
Healthcare providers are invited to submit feedback on these changes through the Department of Health and Aged Care’s consultation hub until Tuesday, 31 October 2023.
Will patients have a choice on what pathology and/or diagnostic reports are uploaded to their My Health Record?
By choosing to opt in from My Health Record, patients provide consent to all healthcare providers to upload clinical information. Therefore, healthcare providers do not need to seek consent each time to upload results to a patient’s My Health Record.
Under the My Health Records Act 2012, healthcare providers are legally obligated to comply with a patient’s request not to upload specific information onto their My Health Record.
Where can I find out more information?
