Melbourne East eHealth Network

Melbourne East eHealth Network is operated by Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local (IEMML). IEMML is one of the first Medicare Locals to be established in Victoria as part of the Australian Government’s National Health Reform. It is also one of three Lead Implementation Sites chosen by the Australian Government to test and implement a local shared health summary system.
 
What is the Melbourne East eHealth Network?
The Melbourne East eHealth Network is a local precursor to the introduction of a national health record system. The pilot project was established to develop infrastructure and systems and introduce local medical practitioners and community members to the concept of a shared health summary. This work has been an important stepping stone in developing the necessary functionality to support the recent introduction of the national Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system.
 
The local eHealth network has now been replaced by the national PCEHR system and you will need to register nationally to gain the benefit of a shared health record.
 
What has the local eHealth project achieved?
As part of their work as a Lead Implementation Site, the eHealth team at IEMML have:
      • Conducted site visits to introduce the eHealth strategy to General Practitioners, Community Health Services and Aged care Facilities
      • Registered in excess of ninety local medical organisations, ensuring they are eHealth ready.
      • Established a secure data repository for local Shared Health Summaries
      • Confirmed that local GP Information Technology (IT) systems can connect to the data repository.
      • Worked with Eastern Health and HealthSMART to set up a system to send electronic referrals and discharge summaries to and from GPs.
      • Worked with local GP practices to successfully register over 12,000 local residents for Shared Health Summaries.
      • Provided opportunities for healthcare organisations to register as member organisations.
      • Worked with five Aged Care Facilities to assist them to become member organisations

Acknowledgement
Through the process of establishing the local eHealth Network, our community has had a unique opportunity to shape the future direction of eHealth services in Australia, in particular the national Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record system. We’d like to take this opportunity to formally acknowledge the support and assistance of GPs, Practices, and residents throughout Boroondara, Manningham, Monash and Whitehorse. The project could not have succeeded without your assistance. To build on this work, we’d like to encourage you to take part in the transition to the national PCEHR system as well as encouraging your friends and family to participate. It is only through widespread community support that the national eHealth project will reach its full potential.

Moving forward
With the launch of the national PCEHR system, IEMML is now working to support the transition of patients and practices. The organisation also continues to work on a number of eHealth initiatives.

During the latter half of 2012, IEMML will:

      • Continue to visit local GP practices to support them in setting up their IT systems to be able to access the national PCEHR system
      • Contact all resident members of the Melbourne East eHealth Network site with information about the fast-track process for joining the national PCEHR system
      • Continue work on eHealth initiatives such as eReferral, eDischarge, Secure Messaging Services and more.

Registering for the national PCEHR system
While a fast-track process will soon become available to those enrolled in the Melbourne East eHealth Network, you may wish to sign up to the system immediately. If you wish to register now, you can:

      • Register online
      • Ring 1800 723 471
      • Visit your nearest Medicare shopfront
      • Apply in writing
Applying online is a little different from the other options. That’s because there are two components to creating an eHealth record: 
      • Giving permission for an eHealth record to be created in your name and verifying your identity by applying in writing, over the phone, or at a Medicare outlet. This creates the eHealth record but does not automatically mean you have online access.
      • Linking to your eHealth record via an online portal. This step requires you to create a www.Australia.gov.au registration (if you do not already have one) that enables you to access your eHealth record and other government services such as Medicare.

You do not need to link to your record online to be able to benefit from a personal eHealth record. Medical practitioners will still be able to see your information if you have chosen to share your record with them and you can manage some aspects of your record over the phone. However, online access to your record is necessary so that you can enter your own information and change who has access to your record.

The registration process
The eHealth Learning Portal provides a range of online learning resources to help you better understand the eHealth record system and how it will operate. You’ll also be able to find out more about the registration process through an interactive seminar. Alternatively you can take a look at the instructions included below.

If you create a Personally Controlled eHealth Record online, registering with www.Australia.gov.au is a prerequisite before you can continue  to the identity verification process required for an eHealth record. Registering takes a few minutes but is quicker if you have already prepared the five secret security questions and answers you’ll need to enter. You’ll be prompted for one of these questions, in addition to your login name and password, each time you access online services. This additional security is one of the reasons for using the Australian government portal for the eHealth record.

Once you have registered for Australian government services, you’ll be able to proceed to setting up your personal eHealth record. You will still need to verify your identity though, in one of three ways:

      • The first is to enter an Identify Verification Code, which is provided to people who have registered for the PCEHR in person or by telephone.
      • The second option is to share your Medicare Online identity with the National Electronic Health Record Service. If you already have a Medicare Online account, this is enough to verify your identity. If you do not, sign up at Medicare Online and wait to receive a password in the post to activate your account. Medicare Online will also allow you to find your Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) number.
      • The third option is to follow the series of online prompts that will question you about your most recent Medicare activity. This process can take quite a bit of time and requires you to have very accurate information about your Medicare activity.

Once you have verified your identity, you will be invited to create your eHealth record and add any relevant information about allergies or current medications. You’ll be able to access your personal record through www.australia.gov.au or www.ehealth.gov.au any time. 

While the registration process may seem complex, each step has a legitimate purpose with the ultimate focus on ensuring the security and privacy of your personal health information. Please allow at least 15 minutes for the Australia.gov.au registration process and another 15 minutes for the eHealth verification. If you are prepared though, and have an Identity Verification Code, you may be able to complete the whole process in less than 10 minutes.

Profile of Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local Catchment Area
Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local covers the Local Government Areas of Boroondara, Manningham, Monash, and Whitehorse. The area has an estimated population of 618,428, of which 99,614 are over the age of 65. The area has 207 General Practices, 4 public hospitals, 21 private hospitals, and 4 community centres.

For more information about Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local, please visit us at www.iemml.org.au/about-us.

 

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