The ACT Government has introduced a new, consistent way for people with disability to identify their access needs in the Digital Health Record (DHR).
By building a questionnaire into the DHR and MyDHR, consumers can choose to identify as a person with a disability, record and update their access needs and have this information accessible to Canberra Health Services staff.
From today, Canberrans can voluntarily update their record, supporting Canberra Health Services staff to make reasonable adjustments when providing care.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the initiative reflects Canberra Health Services’ commitment to providing person-centred care that recognises the needs of individuals, carers and families.
“This is a significant step toward a more inclusive health system, one that listens to people with disability and acts on what they have told us,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“We know that people with disability often experience poorer health outcomes and have more complex health needs. Asking whether a person identifies as having a disability, and understanding their access needs, is essential to delivering truly person centred care.
“Until now, there hasn’t been a consistent way to capture this information or make it visible across someone’s health journey.
“I encourage people who would benefit from this information being available to clinicians to complete the questionnaire in MyDHR so it’s there when needed.”
A ‘reasonable adjustment’ is any change to Canberra Health Services’ usual process, communication or environment that helps a patient access health care. Reasonable adjustments are provided wherever possible for Canberra Health Services’ consumers who might need them and are based on individual needs.
Examples of reasonable adjustments may include:
- Adjusting communication or providing information in different ways, for example simplifying language, providing ‘Easy Read’ consumer handouts or large print information
- Adjusting appointments to ensure carers or support people can attend
- Considering the environment, for example, ensuring there is appropriate wheelchair access, and utilising quiet or low-sensory areas if available.
C Moore, Health Literacy Officer, Health Care Consumers’ Association: “It is important that people with disability have a way to share our access needs in the Digital Health Record so that staff know what needs to be done to provide safe, quality health care across all areas of Canberra Health Services. Supporting this with staff training and resources will be essential to delivering accessible health care effectively.
“Collecting this information will also help to build a clearer picture of the needs of people with disability to create a more accessible public health system. Gathering this information will help to increase the visibility of people with disability within health system data. We hope this will be used to promote ongoing improvements that make healthcare safer and more accessible for everyone.”
Craig Wallace, Head of Policy, Advocacy for Inclusion: “Improvements to the Digital Health Record to better capture information about disability status is welcomed. We hope that it leads to better tailored accessible health care responses and support to people with disability, especially those who enter acute care.
“The need to gather better information about disability as people enter the health system has been one consistent theme from the community since work began on the ACT Disability Health Strategy.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Government on the Strategy and seeing improvements to training, infrastructure, health services and attention to issues like diagnostic overshadowing as this work moves forward.”
Louise Irvine, Secretary, DeafACT: “Having the ability to check and edit details in the DHR will be a great support. It reassures members of the Deaf community that CHS staff understand the importance of booking an Auslan interpreter for every appointment.”
