I have previously blogged on my own experiences with signing up for an PCEHR, and as a young relatively healthy young person I can see how this record and overall program can be beneficial for me.
However, I believe that on a much larger scale, those who really need this program to get up and running are the elderly. Having worked on community pharmacy for quite a few years now, I have come to appreciate that along with all the other joys of ageing, one of the main things that older people have to deal with is taking in some cases more than 10 prescription items (and some probably more than that). In a time when we are living longer due to medical advancements, we are more likely to need more medications to maintain more medical conditions, both chronic and acute.
Thus, this demographic are much more likely to see multiple doctors and other healthcare professionals, have multiple hospital visits and take many medications. They may not be up to scratch with how this whole ‘internet’ thing works, but they are absolutely among those who are most likely to receive great benefit from the wide uptake and implementation of eHealth in Australia.
Greater collaboration between doctors, pharmacists and allied health professionals is invaluable to creating better health outcomes for our elderly and aging population.
This collaboration could lead to less adverse reactions and accidental over/underdosing of medications by the elderly and therefore less avoidable hospital admissions. More mutual understanding between medical professionals leads to much better health outcomes for patients.
Pharmacists play a central role in maintaining eHealth records, especially for the elderly, as they are the medication experts. Pharmacists would be able to counsel patients about their health in general and specific medications with a more rounded view of the patient history than what is provided in the dispensing databases.
More than this, pharmacists can play an active role in encouraging and even helping older people sign up for a PCEHR.
Further, clinical services provided by Pharmacists to these patients could be easily recorded and uploaded on to their eHealth record, for this information to be shared with other health professionals. Transferring of information about services provided can also be easily transferred to Guildcare for reimbursement from the government.
Our elderly population is growing and eHealth, along with pharmacy clinical services are just some of the benefits that this group in the population can enjoy if eHealth gets off the ground.
Here’s hoping.
E-Health Blog 2013 
I couldn’t agree more, E-Health is a great thing for elderly who are taking many medications and seeing several doctors. I see it in the pharmacy myself, older people taking so many tablets that it would be easy for them to lose track. If they are admitted to hospital or see a new doctor, it may be difficult for them to remember what medications they are on or previous test results etc. With E-Health it would make situations like this so much easier and doctors and pharmacists can see the whole picture of someone’s health without them having to relay it all! Like you said, the elderly may not be the most computer savvy, but doctors and pharmacists should be getting them onto E-Health becaus they are the ones it will benefit the most!
I agree with you. Now a days, people are becoming less cautious about their health, especially the elderly people. E-health would be a great idea for them, as they tend to forget to take their medication (even if they had webster packs). E-health will make everyone’s life (the health team: doctors, patients, pharmacists etc.) much easier. Good job! 🙂