The National E-Health Transition Authority (NeHTA) will maintain its
current design for personal e-health records despite acknowledging
concerns that increased consumer control over health information could
potentially result in poorer health outcomes for patients.
In its submission (PDF) to the Senate inquiry into the Federal Government’s Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (PCEHR) Bill 2011, introduced in November,
the body charged with the rollout of the PCEHR conceded that access to
accurate clinical information was essential for healthcare professionals
but said the system’s design would not be changed.
"Some medical professionals have raised concerns that if consumers are
able to restrict access to information in their PCEHR, this will create
clinical risk because healthcare providers will be basing their
decisions on only part of the story,” the submission reads.
However, the submission argues that consumers already exercise control
in the information they provide to different healthcare providers.
"The PCEHR is intended to increase the control that consumers have over
their information, not to reduce it. Therefore, the option to withhold
information in some circumstances remains in the design... Click here to view the full article...
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