My Health Record & Radiology Reports
My Health Record and Your Diagnostic Imaging Reports
My Health Record is Australia’s secure digital health record system. It allows you and your healthcare providers to access important health information, including diagnostic imaging reports.
You can access your My Health Record through myGov or the 1800MEDICARE app. You can also control who can access your information and view when your record has been accessed.
At Broken Hill Radiology, diagnostic imaging reports may be made available through My Health Record in accordance with Australian Digital Health requirements.
When Will My Imaging Report Appear in My Health Record?
Your report will not necessarily appear immediately after your examination.
After your imaging examination, the images need to be reviewed and the report prepared and finalised. Depending on the type of examination and whether further specialist review is required, this process may take some time.
Once a report has been finalised and provided to the healthcare practitioner who requested your examination, it will generally be uploaded to My Health Record within 24 hours.
There may then be a waiting period before you can view the report.
Are Some Reports Available Immediately?
Yes. The timing depends on the type of diagnostic imaging examination.
According to the Australian Digital Health Agency:
- Some X-ray reports involving the arms and legs may be available as soon as they are uploaded.
- Other X-ray and diagnostic imaging reports generally become viewable 5 days after they are uploaded.
- This 5-day period can apply to reports for examinations such as CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, mammograms and ultrasounds.
The delay is based on the type of examination, not on whether the result is normal or abnormal.
Why Is There a 5-Day Delay?
The delay provides an opportunity for your referring doctor or other healthcare practitioner to receive and review the report before it becomes available for you to view in My Health Record.
Importantly, a delayed report does not mean that something is wrong with your result. Some diagnostic imaging reports automatically have a 5-day delay regardless of the findings.
Will All My Imaging Reports Be Uploaded?
Not necessarily.
There are circumstances where a diagnostic imaging report may not be uploaded to My Health Record. These may include:
- You or your authorised representative have asked for the report not to be uploaded.
- The personal details on your imaging request do not match the details held in My Health Record.
- A technical or system issue prevents the upload.
- The healthcare provider has an approved extension relating to upload requirements.
- You do not have a My Health Record or your record settings prevent an upload.
- Uploading the report could pose a risk to your health, safety or wellbeing.
- The particular type of report is not required to be uploaded.
- State or territory legislation prevents the information from being uploaded in particular circumstances.
Can I Ask for a Report Not to Be Uploaded?
Yes. You can ask your healthcare provider not to upload a particular report to My Health Record. A nominated or authorised representative may also make this request on your behalf.
If a report is not uploaded, it will not be available for you or other healthcare providers to view through your My Health Record. In some circumstances, it may not be possible to upload the report later if you change your mind.
What Should I Do if I Do Not Understand My Report?
Your diagnostic imaging report contains medical terminology intended to help your referring healthcare practitioner understand the findings of your examination.
Your report will be sent to the doctor or healthcare practitioner who requested your imaging. They are the most appropriate person to explain what the results mean in the context of your symptoms, medical history and ongoing care.
You should arrange a follow-up appointment with your referring practitioner to discuss your results and whether you require any further investigation or treatment.
Is My Information Secure?
My Health Record includes privacy and security protections designed to give you control over your health information.
You can:
- Control who can access your information.
- See who has accessed your record.
- View your access history and audit trail.
- Remove or hide information that has already been uploaded.
- Restrict access to particular information.
There are also penalties for unauthorised access or misuse, and emergency access to My Health Record is controlled.
How Do I Access My Health Record?
You can access My Health Record through:
For more information about My Health Record, privacy settings and accessing your diagnostic imaging reports, visit the Australian Digital Health Agency – My Health Record website.
You can also contact the My Health Record Help Line on 1800 723 471 or email help@digitalhealth.gov.au.
If you have questions about your diagnostic imaging appointment or the examination you are having, please contact Broken Hill Radiology. Questions about the meaning of your imaging results should generally be discussed with the healthcare practitioner who referred you for the examination.
