Health technologies play an important role in many areas of health. Digital information and communication help health services, practitioners and patients to monitor, track, record and manage their health more easily, securely, and often more quickly.
From video calls for telehealth consultations, electronic medical records, prescriptions, referrals and equipment – digital health tools provide many benefits.
However, to harness the full potential of digital health, people need to have a certain level of skills and knowledge, otherwise known as health literacy. Health literacy includes being able to find, understand and use information and services. Digital health literacy includes knowing how to use a computer, phone or the internet.
People can improve their health literacy by doing things like:
- asking for more information if they need understand something better
- taking a friend, family member or carer to healthcare appointments if needing extra support
- asking for a translator if they need one
- giving healthcare professionals full medical history details
- seeking out information about health and care.
To improve your digital skills click here to access a range of videos, online courses, guides and tip sheets. Note that some neighbourhood houses offer courses on how to use smart phones and computers, click here to find a list of neighbourhood houses in Victoria.
More on digital health tools
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An electronic prescription is a digital form of a paper prescription. It is a safe, convenient and secure option, that people can choose to receive their medicines.
Tokens
Most medicines can be prescribed using an electronic prescription. Your doctor will send a text message with a link to your electronic prescription to your mobile phone or email, which can be stored until you are ready to attend a pharmacy. The message will contain a unique QR barcode, which is also known as a ‘token’.
If you have any questions or issues with your electronic prescription tokens, you can discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.
To find out more about electronic script tokens and how to get started, click here to watch a video.
Active script lists
An active script list is a complete list of all electronic prescriptions and repeat prescriptions. It helps people who take multiple medicines to not have to keep track of several electronic prescription tokens or paper scripts.
People can register for an active script list at a pharmacy that offers registration. Authorised representatives, such as family members and carers can also register for an active script list on another person’s behalf.
To find out more about active script lists and how to get started, click here to watch a video.
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Changes are being made to make it easier for you to access your health information. Soon, most test reports—like blood tests and x-rays—will be added to My Health Record automatically, or “Shared by Default” unless you choose otherwise.
How will this affect access my pathology or radiology reports in My Health Record?
From mid-October 2025:
- Most pathology reports (like blood and urine tests) will be available for you to view in My Health Record as soon as they are uploaded.
- Some results, including anatomical pathology, cytopathology and genetic testing, will be viewable after a five-day delay (reduced from the previous seven-day delay).
From February 2026:
- X-ray reports for limbs (arms and legs) will be available for you to view immediately after upload.
- Reports for other x-rays and scans (like CT scans, mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI and PET scans) will be viewable after five days, reduced from the previous seven-day delay.
Sharing of information by default is expected to extend to other healthcare providers in the future.
How to access
To access My Health Record you need a myGov account, the secure way to access Australian Government services online. Login to MyGov
For more information
- The My Health Record section of this page
- Fact sheet: Your pathology and radiology reports in My Health Record
- Learn more about My Health Record
- How can I access My Health Record video
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My Health Record is a national digital record system. Everyone has a My Health Record account unless they’ve opted out. It offers a safe and secure place for people to access and store their key health information digitally. It is available to patients and healthcare providers and can be accessed anytime, including in times of being away from home and in a medical emergency, wherever there is an internet connection available.
Patient benefits
Having a My Health Record means you don’t have to remember things like dates of past appointments, test results, names of medicines and their dosages or carry around paperwork. While anyone can have one, people who have multiple health conditions and several clinicians involved in their care benefit the most. It is particularly useful for people who travel and has helped people displaced from their homes and communities during times of natural disaster.
What is in a record
Individuals and health professionals can upload information to My Health Record. This includes for:
- allergies, medicines, adverse reactions
- immunisation history
- diagnostic imaging reports, such as ultrasounds and x-rays
- pathology reports, such as blood test results
- hospital discharge summaries
- goals of care and advance care planning documents
- organ donor status
- emergency contact details
- personal health notes
- prescription and medicine dispense records and pharmacist shared medicines list
- shared health summaries, which is a clinical record of your health status at a single point in time
- event summaries, which contain information about a significant healthcare event you may have had
- e-Referrals and specialist letters.
Managing privacy
My Health Record is protected by legislation and a range of security controls. All documents are set to give healthcare providers general access but people can change who they do or don’t want to access their information.
‘People can nominate a representative, such as family and carers, to view or help manage their My Health Record. People can also be an authorised representative for their child or older person who lacks capacity to make decisions for themselves.
How to access
To access My Health Record, you need a myGov account. myGov is a secure way to access Australian Government services online.
For more information
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Diagnostic imaging and pathology
Diagnostic imaging (x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds etc) and pathology tests (blood, urine, tissues) help doctors to make more accurate diagnoses and decide on treatment options.
Recent changes to the law for healthcare providers means, that pathology and diagnostic imaging results will now start to be uploaded to a patient’s My Health Record more regularly and quickly.
Once reports are uploaded the patient can choose to share them (or not) with other members of their healthcare team – from a single and secure location.
Electronic referrals/requesting
Some pathology and radiology services have special software that allows doctors and other healthcare providers to send electronic (referral) requests for tests, meaning that the patient doesn’t need to remember to take a paper copy.
If you would like to learn more about these in your My Health Record visit the following webpages: diagnostic imaging reports and pathology reports.
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Normally, you need to be an existing patient of a GP to book an appointment. But if your area has been declared a natural disaster zone, this rule doesn’t apply while the declaration is in place. When natural emergencies disrupt access to regular healthcare, these digital tools can help you stay safe and connected:
Telehealth services
During bushfire events, telehealth services are often activated to provide urgent medical consultations. Here are some key points to consider:
- Telehealth with your GP: Book online video consultations for non-life-threatening conditions. Accessible via phone, tablet, or computer if your GP offers telehealth services.
- Victorian Virtual Emergency Department (VVED): Free, 24/7 video consultations for non-life-threatening conditions. You’ll connect with emergency nurses and doctors trained to assist you. Available via phone, tablet, or computer.
Electronic prescriptions (eScripts)
- Doctors can send prescriptions as a QR code token via SMS or email.
- If your doctor is unavailable, online telehealth GP services can issue eScripts.
- Present the token at any eScript-enabled pharmacy or arrange home delivery.
- Available for most medicines (except certain controlled drugs).Doctors can send prescriptions via SMS or email as a QR code token.
- Registered GPs and Telehealth doctors can issue digital referrals for specialists, imaging, or pathology.
- Sent securely via email or SMS for easy access.
Securing medicines
- Talk to your pharmacist for advice and options.
- Emergency Supply: If you can’t reach your doctor, pharmacists can provide up to 3 days’ supply of essential medicines for ongoing treatment without a prescription. (excluding certain controlled drugs).
- Owing prescriptions: If your doctor can’t send a script immediately, pharmacies can dispense your medicine and receive the prescription later.
Helpful online websites
- Healthdirect: Bushfires and your health
- My Health Record: Access your health summary, prescriptions, and allergies online.
- VicEmergency App: Real-time alerts for fire and smoke conditions.
- EPA AirWatch: Check air quality updates.
- Healthdirect: Symptom Checker
Tips for community
- Keep your Medicare card and photo ID handy.
- Save telehealth and pharmacy contact numbers in your phone.
- If you use regular medicines, keep a small emergency supply ready.
- Use My Health Record to share your medical and medication history with any pharmacy or doctor.
- If symptoms worsen, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
For further information or support, email: digitalhealth@murrayphn.org.au
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