PEOPLE of Dubbo have been slow to take up the federal government's eHealth record system rolled out more than a year ago.
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According to a spokesperson for the Australian Government Department of Health, there are around 1000 residents who have registered for the personally controlled eHealth record system (PCEHR) in Dubbo, which stores all medical records to make receiving the right treatment faster, safer and easier.
"In Dubbo, the Western NSW Medicare Local (WML) is supporting the uptake of consumer education and registration for the PCEHR... which currently has one million patients nationally," the department spokesperson said.
eHealth gives individuals the power to determine what records go into a secure online summary of personal medical information.
Registered patients can then determine what doctors, hospitals and health care providers can view, and share patient health information, to provide patients with the best possible care.
"The WML is assisting consumers registering for a PCEHR and helping to build capacity within general practitioner practices to use the system.
"This includes working and providing advisory services to after-hours clinics, care coordination and supplementary services programs, Indigenous chronic disease clinics and aged care multi-disciplinary care coordination," the spokesperson said.
There are currently 5,500 health organisations registered for the PCEHR with 11,000 health documents uploaded on the system.
"Patient feedback for those who have registered for a PCEHR has been supportive," the department said.