Clinic file upload a Wairarapa first

INTO THE FUTURE: Masterton Medical manager Paul Cocks says patients will be better informed about their health care with the online portal. PHOTO/FILE

In a trailblazing move Masterton Medical has become the first clinic in Wairarapa to offer patients a new service called ManageMyHealth.

The online portal allows people on the medical centre's books to see their health records, order repeat prescriptions, book appointments, message their doctor, and view lab results.

Manager Paul Cocks said a group of doctors and patients tested out the portal in order to get feedback on how it was working. It was opened up to everyone in October and so far, 248 patients have registered to use it. Of those, 177 have signed in, he said.

"The big benefit for patients is they can see their records and what's going on in their health care, they are better informed."

He said patients could expect to spend less time on the phone, for example, for lab results, they could just log on and view them. Doctors could block abnormal results to avoid distressing patients and talk to them in person about any "bad news", he said.

Another feature of the portal is the ability for people to message their doctors.

Mr Cocks said short queries would be answered at no charge but doctors could ask patients to book an appointment if a longer consultation was needed. He said the portal was very secure and the data was encrypted.

It requires a login and password, and according to the ManageMyHealth website, uses security measures similar to internet banking.

"It's sort of part of the shared care records [SCR] system ... but it's a stand-alone web-based program," said Mr Cocks.

Most Wairarapa people's health records are already online in the SCR system, which started in 2011 and was designed to allow hospital staff and after-hours GPs to access records from a patient's regular doctor. Masterton Medical, Carterton, Featherston and Greytown Medical Centres, Martinborough Health Services, and Whaiora participate in the SCR system.

The nationwide rollout of portals is being led by the National Health IT Board and 50 per cent of GPs are expected to have a portal by the end of the year.

Mr Cocks said it only gives access to your records at Masterton Medical, not those from previous practices.

The practice also now takes bill payments on its website by Visa or MasterCard.

To sign up for the portal, people can ask at reception for a registration form but must be over 18 and provide an email address and valid ID.