Eril, at 76, is an early adopter of digital health tools. She has accessed My Health Record via my health app on her phone since it first came out.   

The app has become an integral part of her healthcare routine. Whether it’s preparing for an upcoming appointment, or specialist visits, Eril finds my health app extremely useful for quickly referencing her medical history. Recently, when preparing for a specialist appointment, she was asked to provide details about her previous CT scan. Thanks to the app, she could swiftly flick through her records and provide the requested information instantly. 

Another of Eril’s frequently used digital health tools is electronic prescriptions. Being an avid traveller, with family in Melbourne and trips to other states, she says the convenience of having her prescriptions on her phone is invaluable.   

Watch Eril’s story:

A closer look at the digital health tools used by Eril  

My Health Record  

Most Australians have a My Health Record. It houses a range of useful documents and health information including your medical conditions, pathology test results, proof of vaccination documents, prescriptions, scans and hospital discharge information. It is a private record and can only be seen by you, your healthcare providers and anyone else you choose to share it with. 

If you don’t already have a My Health Record, you can register for one at any time by following a three-step process outlined on digitalhealth.gov.au.  When this is complete, you can access My Health Record through a computer or a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet, with an internet connection. You can also view your record using the my health app. 

My health app  

Downloading the my health app onto your mobile phone is a convenient way to access your My Health Record when you are out and about. It allows you to see your key health information, pathology results, medicine information and vaccination history from your phone. You can download my health by searching for “my health gov” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

Electronic prescriptions  

An electronic prescription is a digital version of a paper prescription. They are a safe and convenient alternative to paper prescriptions. If you choose to receive an electronic prescription, your doctor will send a text message or an email to your mobile phone containing a link, otherwise referred to as a token, with your prescription. When you are ready to collect your medicines, the QR code is scanned from your phone at the pharmacy. It is a safe, secure, and convenient alternative to paper prescriptions.  

For more information about these digital health tools, please visit digitalhealth.gov.au, contact the My Health Record helpline on 1800 723 471 or email [email protected].