Clinicians in Australia are accessing imaging and pathology reports in My Health Record at a rate more than 800% higher than three years ago, according to figures released by the Australian Digital Health Agency.
Engagement has surged since the federal government launched its Share by Default strategy in May 2023. Between May 2023 and August 2026, views of diagnostic imaging reports rose by 866%, while pathology report views climbed by 642%.
The agency credits the increase to better interoperability between clinical software and provider systems. Under reforms that began on 1 July this year, healthcare providers must now upload written pathology and diagnostic imaging reports to My Health Record by default.
Related: Glucose monitoring to become standard care soon
Plans for the next phase of the strategy include expanding the system to cover medicine-related information. Consultations on these changes are underway, with implementation expected next year.
Some clinicians have struggled to locate relevant information quickly within their workflows. To address this, the agency is promoting three access pathways: the National Provider Portal (NPP), a secure online portal for registered providers; Clinical Information Systems (CIS) to NPP, which enables direct access through compatible practice management software; and the Healthcare Information Provider Service (HIPS), which already handles about half of all clinical views.
Peter O’Halloran, the agency’s chief digital officer, stated these options would streamline access, especially for those whose software lacks an optimized My Health Record experience. The agency is also urging providers to upgrade to the latest version of HIPS by late 2027, promising better functionality and usability.
Related: Managing iron deficiency: A GP’s guide
Amanda Cattermole, ADHA’s CEO, highlighted the need for easier access to key information. “Clinicians have told us they want relevant details to be simpler to find within the systems they use daily,” she said. “We are making changes to improve the experience.”
The agency is also prioritizing structured data to help software vendors present information in ways that aid decision-making. Ryan Mavin, ADHA’s branch manager of information standards, noted that new features—like the Child Digital Health Record—will use the FHIR standard from the start. This approach should help clinicians retrieve information more efficiently over time.
