From 1 July, Better and Faster Access changes to My Health Record (MyHR), also known as ‘Share by Default’, will enable most pathology results and radiology reports (excluding images) to be made available to patients at the same time they are released to the referrer.
Couldn’t patients always see results immediately?
No. Diagnostic information in MyHR for most pathology previously had a lock-out period of 7 days to allow the referring health professional to communicate and explain the results. And in most cases, the results never got uploaded to MyHR at all, even if patients requested it.
What is changing?
Under the new approach, most routine test results will be automatically uploaded and visible on MyHR. This means there will be no lockout period for most pathology tests.
Are there exceptions?
Yes. Exceptions include tests that may reveal a serious or unexpected medical condition; or relate to complex investigations requiring structured follow-up (such as genetic testing).
This exemption may be implemented at the discretion of the requesting medical practitioner or the reporting physician (i.e. pathologist, radiologist). These safeguards are designed to ensure appropriate clinical context is provided before patient access.
Why does it matter for pharmacists?
These changes enhance the clinical utility of MyHR in day-to-day practice. With appropriate patient consent, pharmacists will see more complete and recent pathology data. This is particularly valuable when:
- dispensing medicines influenced by pathology (e.g. renal function, INR)
- conducting HMRs or RMMRs
- supporting medicine safety and optimisation.
What do I need to do differently?
Greater access to pathology results presents an opportunity – and to some degree an obligation – to enhance clinical decision-making through reviewing available information.
How will this impact patients?
Pharmacists will likely be asked by patients to interpret results they have viewed in MyHR. Pharmacists should provide general, non-diagnostic explanations, emphasise results must be interpreted in clinical context and encourage follow-up with the referrer for interpretation or management decisions. While these changes improve information access, they may also increase unscheduled patient presentations driven by anxiety or confusion around results.
Are these changes a good thing?
Share by Default will empower safer, more effective and more efficient health care for Australians and the health workforce. As medicine experts, pharmacists will have access to the critical information we’ve often craved to identify and resolve safety and efficacy concerns regarding medicines. Time constraints, lack of remuneration, and limitations of clinical context will need to be managed – but the changes will empower pharmacists and other health professionals to deliver the level of care we want for our patients.
Our author
Jarrod Mcmaugh FPS is PSA’s digital health lead and
PSA Victorian State Manager
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Lodge your own question or advice at editorial@australianpharmacist.com.au
