My Health Record, eScripts, Active Script List — the digital tools you're expected to know but nobody properly explains. Interactive setup checklist, quick-reference cards, and scenario walkthroughs. 2 minutes, not 45.
Documents you'll see:
📄 Shared Health Summary — uploaded by the patient's regular GP. Current conditions, medications, allergies, immunisations. This is the most useful document in the record for handover.
🧪 Pathology & radiology results — auto-uploaded by labs. Not always complete — some pathology providers don't upload.
💊 PBS medications — dispensed medicines appear automatically. Shows what was actually filled, not just prescribed.
🏥 Hospital discharge summaries — uploaded by hospital systems. Quality varies enormously.
💉 Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) — vaccines recorded through Medicare.
📝 Event summaries, specialist letters, referral responses — when uploaded by the provider.
Upload a Shared Health Summary. This is the gold standard contribution. It creates a snapshot of the patient's current health that any provider (hospital, specialist, ED) can access. Your clinical software (BP, MD, Zedmed, Genie) has a built-in function — usually under "My Health Record" or "Upload" in the patient's record.
View the record. Check medications actually dispensed (vs prescribed), review hospital discharge summaries before follow-up, verify immunisation status, see pathology from other providers.
Emergency Access. In a clinical emergency, you can access a patient's record even without their consent. The system logs this access and the patient is notified.
🔴 Not all results appear. Some pathology/radiology providers don't upload to My Health Record. Don't assume the record is complete.
🔴 Patient may have restricted access. Patients can set a Record Access Code (RAC) or restrict individual documents. If you can't see content, ask the patient.
🔴 Shared Health Summary ≠ your clinical notes. The SHS is a curated summary, not a dump of your entire file. Keep it focused: current conditions, current medications, allergies, immunisations.
🔴 "Do Not Send" flag. Pathology providers can be asked by patients not to send results to My Health Record. Respect this — it's the patient's right.
1. You prescribe in your clinical software as normal.
2. Instead of printing paper, the script is sent as a token — via SMS, email, or stored on the patient's Active Script List (ASL).
3. Patient presents the token (or their ASL) at any pharmacy. Pharmacist scans or looks it up.
4. Repeats are tracked digitally. Patient can see remaining repeats in the my health app.
ASL stores all of a patient's active electronic prescriptions in one place — linked to their Medicare identity. The patient doesn't need to keep track of SMS tokens.
For patients: walk into any pharmacy, provide Medicare card or IHI, pharmacist sees all active scripts.
For you: fewer "I lost my script" calls. Fewer repeat requests because the patient can self-manage at the pharmacy.
To enable: the patient needs to opt in via the my health app or at the pharmacy. Over 80,000 patients have registered.
🔴 Controlled drugs (S8). Rules vary by state. Some jurisdictions require paper scripts for S8 medications. Check your state's requirements — this is an active area of regulatory change.
🔴 Private scripts. Electronic prescriptions work for PBS and private scripts, but the patient needs to understand the token system.
🔴 Elderly patients. Some patients prefer paper. That's fine — paper and electronic prescriptions coexist. Offer the choice, don't force it.
🔴 Software compatibility. Your clinical software must support ePrescribing and be connected to a Prescription Exchange Service (PES). Most major platforms (Best Practice, Medical Director, Genie) now support this.
Patients can opt out of My Health Record entirely (call 1800 723 471) or restrict access to specific documents. They can also set a Record Access Code — you'll need this code to view their record. Respect their decision. Document in your clinical notes that the patient has restricted access. You can still provide standard care.
Not all pathology providers upload to My Health Record — coverage is improving but not 100%. Also, there's a processing delay (usually 1–3 days). If the patient has a Record Access Code set, it may also block access. Check directly with the pathology provider if results are consistently missing.
If they're registered for Active Script List (ASL), the pharmacy can look up their active scripts via Medicare. If not, you can re-issue the prescription from your clinical software (it generates a new token). Encourage the patient to sign up for ASL via the my health app — it prevents this situation.
Emergency Access is built into the system. Authorised healthcare providers can access a patient's record without their consent in a clinical emergency. The system logs this access and the patient is notified afterwards. The provider must document the emergency reason. This works even if the patient has a Record Access Code set.
No. Only registered healthcare providers can access My Health Record, and only in the context of providing clinical care. Employers, insurers, and government agencies (other than for health provision) cannot access it. The My Health Records Act 2012 has specific criminal penalties for unauthorised access. Patients can also see exactly who has accessed their record through an access log.
In your clinical software, open the patient's record and find the My Health Record section (location varies by software — it's usually a tab, icon, or menu item). Select "Create/Upload Shared Health Summary." The software will pull in current conditions, medications, allergies, and immunisations from your local record. Review and edit before uploading — this becomes the reference document for other providers. The best time to do this is at a chronic disease review, health assessment, or after any significant medication change.
Direct them to the my health app (search "my health gov" on App Store or Google Play) or myGov → My Health Record online. They can view all documents, set access controls, and see who has accessed their record. Point them to our digital Medicare card guide for step-by-step instructions.
Rules vary by state and territory. Some jurisdictions now allow electronic prescriptions for Schedule 8 medications, while others still require paper. Check your state's drug and poisons legislation — it's changing rapidly. Your clinical software may also have built-in warnings. When in doubt, use paper for S8 medications and contact your jurisdictional authority.