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e-health

Electronic health records are one of the most important opportunities to improve the quality and safety of health care, reduce waste and inefficiency and improve continuity and health outcomes for patients.

National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission Fact Sheet

A person-controlled electronic health record
Privacy in e-health
Encouraging take up of e-health
More information

Electronic health records are one of the most important opportunities to improve the quality and safety of health care, reduce waste and inefficiency and improve continuity and health outcomes for patients.

A person-controlled electronic health record

A person-controlled electronic health record should be available for each Australian – as one of the most important systemic opportunities to create person-centred health care and improve quality and safety. Giving people better access to their own health information through a person-controlled electronic health record is vital to promoting consumer participation, and supporting self-management and informed decision-making.

By 1 July 2012, every Australian should be able to have and control their own electronic health record with a provider of their choice. People should also be able to approve health care providers and carers to have access to their records.

Privacy in e-health

The Australian Government should legislate to ensure the privacy of electronic health data. Additionally it should be responsible for the development of a national policy and open technical standards framework for e-health.

Encouraging take up of e-health

The payment of public and private benefits for all health and aged care services should be dependent on their ability to accept and provide patient data electronically and this should occur by 2013.

The Australian Government should develop and implement an appropriate national marketing strategy to inform consumers and health professionals about the significant benefits and safeguards of the proposed e-health model.

More information

This is a summary of some of the major recommendations of theNational Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. Full recommendations can be found in A Healthier Future For All Australians – Final Report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission – June 2009

View fact sheets by topic

Select a topic to view the related health reform fact sheets.

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Featured Publications

A National Health and Hospitals Network for Australia’s Future – Delivering the Reforms

A National Health and Hospitals Network for Australia’s Future - Delivering the ReformsThe implementation plan provides details of implementation activities over coming months and years, including timelines and major milestones to implement the major health reform agreed by COAG in April 2010.

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A National Health and Hospitals Network for Australia’s future - Delivering Better Health and Better HospitalsOn 19 and 20 April 2010, an historic agreement was reached by the Council of Australian Governments, except Western Australia, to the establishment of a National Health and Hospitals Network.

View all publications

View fact sheets by topic

Select a topic to view the related health reform fact sheets.

Page last updated 27 July, 2009