Is your (or your child’s) allergy information in My Health Record?
My Health Record is a secure online summary of your health information. Every Australian now has a My Health Record, unless they have chosen not to have one.
Having information about your allergies and adverse reactions in My Health Record is an easy way for your healthcare providers to access information about serious and life-threatening allergies when they need it. In an emergency, it could be life saving for doctors to know if you are allergic to medications, food or substances you might come into contact with when in hospital, such as latex.
There are different ways that you and your healthcare provider can add allergy information into My Health Record:
- Your GP can add a shared health summary, after discussing this with you.
- You can add a personal health summary.
- Some hospitals are uploading discharge summaries.
- Some specialists are able to upload their specialist letters.
How to add allergy information to My Health Record:
The first step is to find out what information about your (or your child’s) allergies has been recorded in My Health Record. If there is information that is missing about serious and life-threatening allergies you can:
- Speak to your GP about adding a shared health summary. A shared health summary represents your (or your child’s) health status at a point in time.
- Add allergies and adverse reaction to your personal health summary. Your healthcare providers will be able to view this information.
The following fact sheets explain how to get set up to view, add and update allergy information to My Health Record.
- How to add allergy information into My Health Record: A guide for consumers provides step by step guidance to correctly enter, view and update allergy information. There is a section for your doctor or specialist to write what you are allergic to, and reaction type to make sure you enter the correct wording.
- Getting set up with My Health Record: A guide for consumers is for patients who are accessing My Health Record for the first time. You need to complete this step before being able to add allergy information.
Where can I find more information?
Please visit the National Allergy Strategy website for more information.
Kind regards,
Dr William Smith and Ms Karen Wong
Project Co-leads, National Allergy Strategy My Health Record Project