Australian consumers will be able to register from today for a personally controlled electronic health record – but the $1 billion PCEHR system won’t get going in earnest until at least August.
Consumers can now register for a PCEHR, set personal controls and upload information about their personal health events, a federal Health Department spokeswoman told The Australian.
From August, she said healthcare providers would be able to interact with the system, accessing records and uploading clinical information about patients who have given their permission.
The PCEHR system will be operated by consulting group Accenture, which last week was awarded a two-year $47 million contract to do so by the Health Department. It is also supplying the infrastructure under a separate a $90 million contract.
The infrastructure and is currently being put through its paces ahead of “go-live” in August, according to the Oz.
– In the US, Accenture shares jumped 6 percent in after-hours trading on Friday after the company reported quarterly earnings that topped analysts’ estimates, reflecting the emerging of US companies from the financial crisis, as well as expanded operations outside the US. Net income for Accenture’s fiscal third quarter, which ended May 31, rose 9.7 percent to US$689.2 million. Sales were up 6.5 percent at $7.15 billion.
