Judgment Statement

• Digital health has been moderately successful in connecting health information.
• Strong progress has been made in system infrastructure and coverage, but outcomes are limited by low engagement and incomplete data integration.

Infrastructure Achievement

• Evidence supporting this includes impressive technical connectivity across healthcare providers.
• Over 98% of GPs, pharmacies and public hospitals are registered with My Health Record systems.
• With 24 million records created, most Australians have at least partial health histories digitally stored.
• One major reason why this represents moderate success is the establishment of interoperable systems enabling real-time data sharing.
• During COVID-19, telehealth integration highlighted the system’s ability to connect records quickly and effectively.
• This shows digital health has been highly effective in building infrastructure for information connection nationwide.

Limited Practical Impact

• However, it is important to consider that only one quarter of Australians actively view their digital health records.
• Despite extensive infrastructure, specialists and aged care providers remain largely disconnected, reducing the system’s completeness.
• For example, only 20% of diagnostic imaging data is uploaded, leaving critical information missing.
• This means connection exists technically but not fully in practice, as limited usage prevents optimal outcomes.
• This demonstrates that digital health has achieved structural readiness but limited practical impact.

Reaffirmation

• Overall, digital health has reached moderate success: strong infrastructure with limited real-world utilisation.
• The government’s ~$1 billion investment into upgrades confirms this realisation and that more development is needed.
• Therefore, while the foundations are there, future success depends on expanding provider participation and increasing consumer engagement to ensure the system is fully utilised.

Judgment Statement

• My Health Record has been moderately successful in connecting health information across Australia.
• It has shown progress in coverage and access, but faces challenges in usage and depth of data.
• This assessment will focus on how well it connects information for providers and patients, and whether it is widely and effectively used.

Coverage and Access

• The system includes 24 million Australians that have records out of a population of 27 million. With 98% of records containing some data, a vast majority of people have at least partial health histories recorded.
• This demonstrates significant success in collecting patient information nationally.
• Public hospitals, GPs and pharmacies are registered with the system, creating a good opportunity for integrated care and data enhancement.
• However, a number of practical limitations exist. For example, only 20% of diagnostic imaging is uploaded, which limits the information available.
• This indicates that although the system can support a wide range of health information, limited uploading reduces its effectiveness which diminishes its value for clinical decision-making.

Usage and Effectiveness

• Despite wide coverage, only one quarter of records are actively viewed. This demonstrates limited engagement, reducing its practical benefit.
• Healthcare providers may not always upload or access data due to system complexity. Significant and ongoing government investment in system upgrades highlights its recognition of these issues.
• While usage is improving, overall outcomes remain inconsistent and uneven.

Overall Assessment

• On balance, My Health Record is valuable but not yet fully effective in connecting health information.
• It delivers broad access but limited uptake and lack of detailed information reduce its overall effectiveness.
• Greater engagement, improved interoperability and stronger data uploads are needed to reach its full potential for coordinated care in Australia.