The Australian Digital Health Agency has launched its first ever consumer mobile app, responding to a public surge of demand for key health information.
Chief Executive of the Agency, Amanda Cattermole said that with consumer views of My Health Record increasing by 292 per cent in the past financial year, the new my health app made it more convenient for Australians everywhere to securely and instantly access key health information from their Records.
Ms Cattermole said the Agency’s own research found that almost two-thirds of Australians regularly used their mobile phones to access, share and manage their health information, “so the release of a consumer-facing app is not only a logical technical development but also a direct response to consumer demand for access to health information when and where they need it”.
“My health is an easy-to-use digital health tool that offers users greater autonomy over their health journey and supports active participation in everyday health management,” Ms Cattermole said.
“The user-friendly interface provides direct visibility of key health information, available whenever and wherever it is needed,” she said.
“The accessibility of a consumer facing app further enhances the way people engage with their health and equips users with a simplified way to efficiently see, store, and share documents.
“Having this information right at users’ fingertips can help facilitate greater engagement and support throughout the entirety of their health and wellness journey.”
Ms Cattermole said that from the app’s home screen, my health users would be able to quickly access their medicine information history; check pathology results; view vaccination history and upcoming immunisations; track allergies and reactions information; view hospital discharge summaries; keep track of advance care planning documents; share their documents with others; and view multiple records, including records for children under 14 and any other records with authorised access.
She said the app was fortified with robust data protection mechanisms to secure consumers’ health information against external interference and was fully integrated with end-to-end encryption with the My Health Record platform.
“A seamless connection between the app and the platform is made by leveraging the new Health API Gateway,” the Agency Chief Executive said.
“New health data is automatically downloaded onto the app’s interface as soon as it is available on My Health Record.”
Ms Cattermole said the my health app was now available to download from iOS and Android app stores.
