A few days ago there was a presentation from NEHTA on the Consumer Registration Process for a PCEHR.
You can download the presentation here:
22 February 2012 - PCEHR registration process and demonstration of Source Forge
The talk covered the so-called Assisted Registration Process.
The talk was by Les Schumer - Design Authority Manager at NEHTA.
There was no discussion of unassisted processes which I assume must also exist.
The aims of the process are to make it quick and simple to register and for it to be able to happen while sitting in the waiting room assisted by receptionist using a B2B process.
Known Customer Approach will be used for identification checking. The criteria will be that the consumer has visited the facility 3 times in past. Any health facility will do apparently (GP Practice, Pharmacy, Hospital, Aged Care Home etc.)
The work flow is intended to be:
1. Consumer reads descriptive brochure which includes terms and conditions - not discussed at talk.
2. Hands brochure to receptionist with a request to register for PCEHR, having signed the brochure saying I want a PCEHR (Here comes paperwork back to Medicare Australia!).
3. The receptionist opens patient record (which has IHI).
Registration screen comes up:
Check Boxes cover 4 areas:
1. Acceptance of the PCEHR Terms and Conditions
2. Receptionist checks box to assert this is a known customer.
3. Receptionist asks does consumer want Medicare Information included in their PCEHR (presumably explained earlier)
4. Asked how would you like you Identity Verification Code (IVC) to be sent:
a. Letter
b. Text
c. Email.
In each case this will be some information already attached to patient’s Medicare file (home address, mobile number etc.).
The registration then fires off - makes the fully set up record can be used by GP and patient when they get their IVC - in the meantime the GP or whoever has created a Health Summary.
Apparently you then log on to Australia.gov.au - using the code you are given to confirm identity - and then set up privacy controls.
It seems any healthcare organisation that wants to can provide the registration service.
Apparently there will be a soft launch of the registration process after July, 1 2012.
But after all this we are told:
NEHTA do not have all the policy settings or specifications as yet however - this is just early warning.
And, right at the end of the presentation Andrew Howard informed the audience that this process would not be ready for July 1, 2012 but some 2-3 months later.
Presumably the registration portal - with a different approach - will be available earlier.
Comments on All This:
1. The amount of time taken from the receptionists day to do all this will be a major issue for the doctors who pay them to do other things!
2. There is still no incentive for GPs etc. to do anything that will muck up work flows in their practice.
3. It is not clear what happens if you move into an area and then want a PCEHR - you have to run up three visits (and the costs) before you can start?
4. How does the system deal with all those who already have a second ID for a particular practice for a particular purpose (e.g. Aids treatment, Mental Health etc.) - it can easily be fake but long standing! We know Medicare has more than one of these!
No wonder the launch will be soft (i.e. slow and unpublicised) - to avoid embarrassment I suspect.
We will await developments.
If you want to see what the consumer and providers are being told here are the recent links:
Enjoy - they are short and colourful!
David.
