Emergency access function

Emergency access function

In certain emergency situations, it is possible to override any access codes the patient may have set so you can access their record or their restricted documents. This is referred to as ‘Emergency Access’. It is important to keep detailed notes relating to the incident in your local patient records as all instances of emergency access are audited by the System Operator. The Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) website outlines appropriate circumstances for using the emergency access function.   

Situations where it may be permissible for a healthcare organisation to use the emergency access function are set out in section 64 of the My Health Records Act and include where the healthcare provider reasonably believes that: 

1. the access is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to an individual’s life, health or safety and the healthcare recipient's consent cannot reasonably be obtained. For example, due to being unconscious; or 

2. the access is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to public health or safety. For example, to identify the source of a serious infection and prevent its spread. 

Once Emergency Access is granted, it is available for five days before the record reverts to original restricted settings. 

More information on the Emergency Access function can be found here.