E-health records laws pass Parliament
AUSTRALIA – Patients will no longer have to repeatedly re-tell their medical histories to doctors after legislation passed Parliament to set up a electronic health record system. The Federal Government says the system will bring the management of health records into the 21st century and provide life saving information in emergencies.
The legislation passed the Senate today with the support of the Coalition despite the concerns about privacy from some Opposition senators.
The system aims to reduce the number of hospital admissions because of medication errors which equate to 190,000 a year as well as cutting down on medical errors because of inadequate patient information.
Australians’ health records will be available online and protected by encrypted passwords. It will be rolled out over time beginning on July 1. People can register for the system by phone or by going into Medicare.
The Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records Bill 2011 and the related Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011 passed the Senate with amendments.
The bills now go to the Governor-General for royal assent.
Source: The Australian
Category: Technology & Devices
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