My Health Record – why it matters, especially for bladder cancer patients
The uptake on the My Health Record program, as part of Medicare, is strong with patients, but under-utilized by doctors, nurses and hospitals. As a Bladder Cancer survivor, I am keen to have My Health Record up to date, so if I had a fall, a stroke, a heart attack or some other illness where I could not communicate, I would want anyone treating me to know about my health history and issues.
Urologists play a crucial role in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of bladder cancer, utilizing various procedures and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive care. Urologists are often the first specialists to evaluate patients with symptoms suggestive of bladder cancer. They perform several key diagnostic procedures.
Bladder cancer treatment often involves a team of healthcare professionals, including oncologists, pathologists, and radiation oncologists. Urologists collaborate with these specialists to ensure comprehensive care tailored to the patient’s needs. This team approach is essential for managing the complexities of bladder cancer, including monitoring for recurrence and managing side effects of treatment.
My Health Record can assist with better use of data and technology, helping people live healthier lives with greater control and better access to important health information.
What is My Health Record?
My Health Record is a secure online summary of key patient health information. Healthcare providers can access the system to view and add information.
Changes are being made to make it a requirement for public and private pathology and diagnostic imaging providers to share reports to My Health Record by default, which will make it easier for healthcare providers to coordinate care and make clinical decisions.
● Learn more about these changes.
Healthcare provider benefits
- Provides immediate access to key health information.
- Facilitates the validation and verification of clinical information.
- Avoids adverse medication events, provides access to allergy information.
- Avoids duplication of tests and diagnostic imaging.
- Provides immunisation details.
- Provides continuity of care, informs end of life care.
Patient benefits
- Prompt access to key health information in an emergency.
- Secure, convenient access to health information.
- Safer, faster more efficient care.
- Less need to remember key aspects of their medical history and medications.
- Improved management of health information.
- Informed self-management of health conditions.
What’s in a record
Records contain key health information like immunisations, pathology and diagnostic imaging reports, prescription and dispensing information, hospital discharge summaries and more, all in one place.
Better and Faster Access to health information
Pathology: Most pathology results (see new test categories below) are available for consumers to view in My Health Record or the 1800MEDICARE app immediately after they are uploaded. For certain categories (including anatomical pathology, cytopathology, and genetic tests) results will be available to consumers after a 5-day delay, regardless of test outcome.
Diagnostic imaging: From March 2026, consumers can immediately view x-ray reports for limbs (arms and legs) after upload. Other diagnostic imaging reports will be available after a 5-day delay, compared to the previous 7-day wait.
- View our Pathology reports overview (PDF, 830.12 KB)
- View our Diagnostic imaging reports overview (PDF, 783.02 KB)
Medical conditions view
This view brings together a consolidated list of medical conditions and procedures from a range of clinical documents available in My Health Record. Information can include:
- the patient’s most recent (up to 2 years) medical conditions and procedures
- the patient’s most recent shared health summary and discharge summary
- available event summaries, specialist letters and e-Referral notes
- the patient’s personal health summary, which may include any allergies or adverse reactions and other key information.
Medicines view
This view brings together medicines-related information, including allergies and adverse reactions, from documents held in a patient’s record. Information is gathered from:
- the patient’s most recent (up to 2 years) prescription and dispense records and other PBS claims information
- the patient’s most recent shared health summary and discharge summary
- available event summaries, specialist letters, e-Referral notes and pharmacist shared medicines list that have been uploaded to the patient’s record since their latest shared health summary
- the patient’s personal health summary, which may include any allergies or adverse reactions and other key information.
Stay informed, stay safe – keep your My Health Record updated.