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HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 042

Outline THREE ways in which My Health Record improves emergency healthcare delivery in Australia.   (3 marks)

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  • Prevents medication errors when unconscious patients cannot communicate – emergency staff instantly access current medications and allergies, avoiding fatal drug interactions.
  • Provides complete medical history including chronic conditions, past surgeries and recent specialist visits. This enables informed treatment decisions within critical timeframes.
  • Eliminates duplicate testing as recent pathology results and imaging scans are immediately available. This reduces delays and unnecessary radiation exposure while accelerating diagnosis and treatment.
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  • Prevents medication errors when unconscious patients cannot communicate – emergency staff instantly access current medications and allergies, avoiding fatal drug interactions.
  • Provides complete medical history including chronic conditions, past surgeries and recent specialist visits. This enables informed treatment decisions within critical timeframes.
  • Eliminates duplicate testing as recent pathology results and imaging scans are immediately available. This reduces delays and unnecessary radiation exposure while accelerating diagnosis and treatment.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 041

To what extent does digital health improve both efficiency for organisations and quality of care for individuals?    (8 marks)

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Judgment Statement

  • Digital health improves efficiency for organisations and quality of care for individuals to a significant extent.
  • This judgment is based on its impact on access to health information, efficiency of services and challenges with data use and equity.

Efficiency and Access Gains

  • Digital health reduces duplication of services by storing prescriptions, imaging and vaccination records in My Health Record.
  • Evidence supporting this includes 24 million Australians now having a record, with 98% containing some data.
  • Organisations such as hospitals and GPs can instantly view history, allergies and medications, saving time and resources.
  • Telehealth also improves efficiency by lowering travel needs and freeing up hospital space.
  • These factors show that digital health has been highly effective in improving efficiency.

Quality of Care and Ongoing Challenges

  • Individuals benefit from tools like the my health app, which provides immediate access to test results and vaccination records.
  • This leads to more informed decision-making and stronger patient engagement.
  • However, challenges remain with low digital literacy, patchy internet in rural areas and privacy concerns.
  • These barriers show digital health is not fully leveraged, meaning improvements in quality of care are only partially achieved.

Reaffirmation

  • On balance, the evidence shows that digital health has significantly improved efficiency for organisations while only moderately improving quality of care for individuals.
  • The evidence shows progress is substantial, but limited by inequities and data challenges.
  • To reach its full potential, further investment in digital literacy, connectivity and data security is needed.
Show Worked Solution

Judgment Statement

  • Digital health improves efficiency for organisations and quality of care for individuals to a significant extent.
  • This judgment is based on its impact on access to health information, efficiency of services and challenges with data use and equity.

Efficiency and Access Gains

  • Digital health reduces duplication of services by storing prescriptions, imaging and vaccination records in My Health Record.
  • Evidence supporting this includes 24 million Australians now having a record, with 98% containing some data.
  • Organisations such as hospitals and GPs can instantly view history, allergies and medications, saving time and resources.
  • Telehealth also improves efficiency by lowering travel needs and freeing up hospital space.
  • These factors show that digital health has been highly effective in improving efficiency.

Quality of Care and Ongoing Challenges

  • Individuals benefit from tools like the my health app, which provides immediate access to test results and vaccination records.
  • This leads to more informed decision-making and stronger patient engagement.
  • However, challenges remain with low digital literacy, patchy internet in rural areas and privacy concerns.
  • These barriers show digital health is not fully leveraged, meaning improvements in quality of care are only partially achieved.

Reaffirmation

  • On balance, the evidence shows that digital health has significantly improved efficiency for organisations while only moderately improving quality of care for individuals.
  • The evidence shows progress is substantial, but limited by inequities and data challenges.
  • To reach its full potential, further investment in digital literacy, connectivity and data security is needed.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 038

Describe one opportunity and one challenge digital health creates for individuals.   (4 marks)

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Opportunity: Better access

  • One important opportunity of digital health is better access to health services and information.
  • This happens when individuals use telehealth or the my health app to quickly see test results, prescriptions or vaccination records.
  • As a result, people can save time, make informed choices and take greater control of their health.

Challenge: Inequity

  • A key challenge is the risk of systemic inequity.
  • Two examples of inequity are people in rural areas who have poor internet coverage or people with low digital skills who may struggle to use these systems.
  • Consequently, not all individuals benefit equally from digital health services.
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Opportunity: Better access

  • One important opportunity of digital health is better access to health services and information.
  • This happens when individuals use telehealth or the my health app to quickly see test results, prescriptions or vaccination records.
  • As a result, people can save time, make informed choices and take greater control of their health.

Challenge: Inequity

  • A key challenge is the risk of systemic inequity.
  • Two examples of inequity are people in rural areas who have poor internet coverage or people with low digital skills who may struggle to use these systems.
  • Consequently, not all individuals benefit equally from digital health services.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 036

Describe how the my health app supports individuals in managing their health.   (4 marks)

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  • The my health app provides secure access to personal health records anywhere, anytime.
  • Individuals can view medication history, vaccination records, pathology results and hospital discharge summaries in one place.
  • The app allows tracking of allergies, reactions and end-of-life care plans.
  • Users can share information with authorised family members or health professionals, improving coordination of care.
  • Mobile access ensures data is available instantly, supporting informed decision-making.
  • Overall, the app encourages autonomy, engagement and health literacy, helping individuals actively manage their health.
Show Worked Solution
  • The my health app provides secure access to personal health records anywhere, anytime.
  • Individuals can view medication history, vaccination records, pathology results and hospital discharge summaries in one place.
    The app allows tracking of allergies, reactions and end-of-life care plans.
  • Users can share information with authorised family members or health professionals, improving coordination of care.
  • Mobile access ensures data is available instantly, supporting informed decision-making.
  • Overall, the app encourages autonomy, engagement and health literacy, helping individuals actively manage their health.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 052 MC

A patient using the 'my health' app notices their pathology results show abnormal values. What is the most appropriate next step according to best practice in digital health?

  1. Use an online symptom checker to diagnose the results
  2. Compare results with previous tests to assess if values are improving
  3. Contact their healthcare provider to discuss the results
  4. Order medications online based on the results
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\(C\)

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  • C is correct: Contacting a healthcare provider ensures professional interpretation of results and appropriate medical advice.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect: Online symptom checkers lack the clinical context and expertise needed to accurately interpret pathology results.
  • B is incorrect: While comparing trends seems logical, patients lack the medical training to interpret whether changes in abnormal values are clinically significant.
  • D is incorrect: Self-medicating based on pathology results without professional guidance is dangerous and could lead to inappropriate treatments.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 048 MC

A 75-year-old patient is admitted to the emergency department unconscious. Which feature of My Health Record would be most valuable to the treating physician?

  1. The patient's vaccination history from childhood
  2. The number of admissions to emergency in the last 12 months
  3. Current medications and known allergies
  4. The contact details of their regular doctor
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\(C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct: Current medications and known allergies are most critical for preventing fatal drug interactions or allergic reactions in an unconscious patient.

Other options:

  • A is incorrect: Childhood vaccination history has minimal relevance to emergency treatment of a 75-year-old.
  • B is incorrect: Previous ED admissions provide context but aren’t as critical as current medications/allergies for immediate treatment.
  • D is incorrect: Regular doctor’s contact details are helpful for follow-up but not essential for emergency treatment decisions.