Every Australian will have a My Health Record, unless they choose not to have one.

If you don’t want a My Health Record, you must register your choice by 31 January 2019, during the opt-out period. For more information, go to the My Health Record website.

Benefits of having a My Health Record

Access

All documents in My Health Record are set to general access for healthcare providers by default. This means any providers who are involved in your care can see this information. You can change your access controls at any time. You can access your health information if you have an internet connection.

Safety

In a medical emergency, seeing your health information can help healthcare providers quickly provide the best possible care. Information about allergies, adverse reactions and medical conditions helps healthcare providers give you better advice and treatment. If you have set an access code for your My Health Record and there is a serious threat to your life, health or safety, emergency access to your record may be provided.

Convenience

If you have a My Health Record, you won't necessarily need to remember every single detail of your health history — such as your medicines, conditions and test results — which could be useful if you need to give this information to several healthcare providers. However, having information available in your My Health Record does not replace the need to have a conversation with your doctor to obtain an update on your medical history and/or current medications. The same applies to your children's health, with My Health Record recording immunisations and medical tests if you wish.

Security

You can control who sees what information. There are strict regulations about who can see or use your My Health Record. This protects your health information from misuse or loss.

What is included in your My Health Record?

Your My Health Record can include:

• a record written by your doctor
• details of medicines prescribed for you
• specialist and referral documents
• details of allergies and adverse reactions
• an immunisations history
• diagnostic imaging reports (like ultrasound or x-ray results)
• pathology reports (like blood tests)
• hospital discharge information
• your Medicare claims history
• your indigenous, veteran and Australian defence force status
• your decision about organ donation
• your wishes about your healthcare if you become too unwell to communicate (sometimes called a ‘living will’ or ‘advanced care planning’ documents)
• contact numbers and emergency contact details
• other personal health notes – you or a nominated representative can enter notes to keep track of your own health, like a health diary. Healthcare providers can’t see these notes.

Your My Health Record doesn't replace any of your existing health records. Your doctors will still keep their own notes.

You can hide or un-hide documents and information stored on your My Health Record. Once hidden, information will not be accessible to others, even in an emergency.

The Child Development section of your child's My Health Record is similar to the paper-based Baby Book. It has information about early health, growth and development, such as:

• personal measurements
• an immunisations and health checks history
• questionnaires about growth and development
• parental observations
• information for parents
• health check questionnaires (for NSW and Tasmania)
• emergency contact information

How to register for My Health Record

Every Australian will have a My Health Record, unless they choose not to have one before 31 January 2019.

You can register for a My Health Record before then in several ways:

• online via the My Health Record website — you will need to create a MyGov account or log in to your existing account to register for My Health Record
• by phone, by calling 1800 723 471 and choosing option 1
• in person at a Medicare service centre
• by completing a registration application form, available from a Medicare service centre or from the My Health Record website and posting it to GPO Box 9942 in your capital city
• by asking your healthcare provider to help you

If you are registering a child, you must have parental responsibility for them and the child must be listed on your Medicare card. If this is not the case, you will need to apply in writing.

You can register a child who is not on your Medicare card:

• in person at a Medicare service centre
• when completing the Newborn Child Claim form — provided to all new parents
• by asking your healthcare provider to help you

People in Nepean Blue Mountains and northern Queensland had My Health Records automatically created for them as part of the trials of My Health Record. These residents can now cancel their My Health Record if they want to (see below).

How can I view and manage My Health Record?

You can access your My Health Record with an internet browser and your myGov username and password. These are created when you register for myGov online. If you don't have a myGov account, you will need to create one to see and use your My Health Record online.

If you don't have internet access, you can call the My Health Record helpline on 1800 723 471 to access your information. Helpline staff can tell you which documents are in your My Health Record but not what each document contains.

The Childhood Development section of your child's My Health Record can also be accessed through the ‘My Child's eHealth record' mobile app. The app is available from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Before you can use the mobile app, you must have registered your child (and yourself) for a My Health Record.

There are also other apps authorised to connect with My Health Record.

Do I want a My Health Record?

Having a My Health Record could make an enormous difference in an emergency if you cannot speak for yourself, or when you're away on holidays and need to see a doctor who is not familiar with you.

But it is not compulsory, and you can choose not to have one. If you haven't already created one yourself and you would prefer not to participate, you'll need to opt out by 31 January 2019. Otherwise, a My Health Record will be created for you automatically.

You can learn more from the My Health Record website or you can call their helpline on 1800 723 471.

You can also watch this video for more information on how My Health Record can benefit you.

If you already have a My Health Record it is possible to cancel it for any reason:

• by visiting the My Health Record website
• by calling the My Health Record helpline on 1800 723 471
• by visiting a Medicare service centre

More information and help

You can get more information:

• online at the My Health Record website
• by calling the My Health Record helpline on 1800 723 471