EMR downunder

[david derauf]

Privacy measure proposed for Australian EMR plan December 19, 2002 Patients in Australia will be able to specify what type of health information medical workers will be allowed to access, as part of a plan to create a national electronic medical records system. Patients could block personal details, such as sexually transmitted diseases and mental health issues, under a plan unveiled Monday. The system, called HealthConnect, is intended to improve care by allowing medical workers to instantly access patients� medical records on a computer. Access to records is important when patients are unconscious or unable to communicate, medical authorities say. Australian Health Minister Kay Patterson has called for public comments on the proposal and ways to protect patient privacy (Hobart Mercury, 12/17).