Today, the My Health Record opt-out period was launched nationally. A public awareness campaign to inform Australians about My Health Record has gone live and will run from 16 July until 15 October 2018.
The comprehensive public awareness campaign was tailored to the population and demographics of each state and will inform the Western Australian community about the benefits of My Health Record, as well as how to opt-out if they don’t want one.
Public campaign: Your Health in Your Hands
The media campaign titled Your Health in Your Hands includes advertising across outdoor, radio, print and social media channels. All media activity in WA is aligned with the other states as part of an integrated national approach.
To give a few examples, WA consumers will be able to hear about My Health Record through metropolitan, regional, ethnic and Aboriginal radio stations, read about it in the Sunday times and The West Australian as well as in regional newspapers, ethnic publications and the Koori Mail.
WAPHA’s My Health Record community engagement officers will continue to be active around the state, talking to metropolitan, regional and remote communities. This engagement will be supported with promotions via locally targetted social media and regional newspapers.
Consumer information at the healthcare provider
As we know that people value and trust the information they receive from their healthcare providers, consumer information packs have been delivered to over 15,000 healthcare locations including general practices, pharmacies, public and private hospitals, and Aboriginal Health Services. This means that consumers will also be informed about My Health Record at the place where it is most relevant – at their healthcare provider.
My Health Record will create synergy in the healthcare system by connecting the different healthcare professions in one online database, allowing better communication to and from hospitals and with other healthcare providers. But it is the patient who will be the real beneficiary, as the record will allow every Australian to take control of their health information whenever they want to and decide who else sees it.
For more information on this exciting project, please go to www.myhealthrecord.gov.au or contact our team at myhealthrecord@wapha.org.au