Manage My Health

Owned by Federica Andreoni
Last updated: Nov 22, 2024
4 min read

History

Manage My Health was developed in 2008 by Medtech Global, a New Zealand-based company specialised in healthcare technology solutions and owned by Cereus Holdings. This patient portal can be integrated with various Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems and is used by most GP practices across the country, making it the most widely used patient portal in New Zealand. In 2020, when Cereus Holdings sold Medtech Global, it decided to retain ownership of the Manage My Health platform, continuing to operate it independently (Manage My Health, 2024,-a; McDonald, 2020).

Features

The platform grants patients access to their medical records within the Patient Management System of their registered practice, often referred to as primary care medical history. This resource can be accessed through the website: https://www.managemyhealth.co.nz/individuals/.

Manage My Health serves as a secure conduit for receiving health information directly from a patient's doctor. Additionally, it offers a repository for supplementary health-related data that may not be recorded in the doctor's system, allowing patients to manually enter details of alternative treatments and medications. With this portal, individuals can retrieve their personal health information from any internet-enabled device, regardless of where they are.
Currently, patients can access their health records through the portal, which includes recent medical conditions, immunisation records, allergies, prescriptions, and more. Furthermore, patients can:

  • Book appointments with their GP.

  • Make online real-time payments for video and phone consultations, appointments, and repeat prescriptions.

  • Access lab test results as soon as they are received by their doctor.

  • Order repeat prescriptions.

  • Receive appointment reminders.

  • Set and manage health goals.

  • Participate in video and phone consultations.

  • Send messages to doctors and nurses.

  • Share health information with healthcare providers and trusted individuals in case of emergencies.

Beyond these core functionalities, the website offers additional features, including access to health-related news, participation in community forums, and entry into various wellness initiatives (Manage My Health, 2024).

Challenges and areas for improvement

Manage My Health is widely used but faces several challenges that affect its functionality and user experience. Key issues include:

  • Limited Data Integration: The platform only aggregates information from GP practices and public healthcare providers, excluding data from private healthcare providers.

  • Lack of Access Log: Patients cannot view an access log to see who has accessed their medical records or when, limiting transparency.

  • Device Integration: The platform does not currently support integration with health-monitoring devices, restricting its utility for patients who use such tools to manage their health.

(PKB interviews, 2024)

Published outcomes - statistics

Manage My Health is used by over 1.85 million Kiwis (out of a total of 5.123 million) and by most GP practices (Manage My Health, 2024,-b).

Screenshots

 

The homepage provides patients with access to various sections of the portal. Key sections include the option to book an appointment with their GP, request a new repeat prescription, and view their health records, lab results, and messages from their healthcare provider, as well as the name of their GP health centre. Additionally, patients can click to access their 'health indicators' and review their health documents.
On the 'Schedule Your Appointment Now' page, patients can book an appointment by selecting or typing the reason for their visit. They can choose their preferred healthcare provider from their health centre and specify whether the appointment should be conducted in person or online.

 

In the 'My Health Record' section, patients can access an overview of their health information, which includes summaries, prescriptions, lab results, conditions, allergies, immunisations, clinical notes, and recalls. Within the summary section, patients can view their 'Health Summary' and download it as a PDF if needed. This summary contains information including the patient's demographics, recent healthcare encounters, current medications, allergies, significant health issues (such as smoking status), immunisations, diagnostic results, and vital signs.

 

 

On the 'Prescriptions' page, patients can view entries from their health centre as well as add their own medications. For each entry, patients can see the date the prescription was issued, the name of the medication, detailed instructions for use, and the name of the prescribing healthcare provider.
Patients can add details about the medications they have taken, including the name of the medication, the quantity consumed, and the dosage. Additionally, they can specify the frequency of administration, the current status (indicating whether they are still taking the medication or not), and the relevant dates associated with each entry.

 

On the 'Conditions' page, patients can view the health conditions recorded by their health centre as well as those they have entered themselves. For each condition, patients can see the date it was recorded and the type of condition.

 

On the 'Lab Results' page, patients can view a list of their test results, accompanied by comments from their clinician. Each entry includes the health centre where the tests were performed and the date the results were received.
When patients click on a specific result, they can view detailed information pertaining to that test. Results are not presented in grouped formats or graphs: each result is displayed individually.
In the 'Clinician Notes' section, patients can access records of their visits, including the date of each appointment, the type of consultation, the name of the clinician, the health centre where the appointment took place, and the notes taken during the visit. Additionally, patients have the option to add their own notes from other appointments.

 

In the 'Recalls' section, each entry includes the due date for the recall, a brief description of the procedure or action required, the recall code, and any associated letters.

 

My health indicators

 

health indicators

 

Patient adding a measurement/health indicator

 

 

The blood pressure shows in graphs

 

Alcohol intake
Alcohol intake bar chart

 

Journal

 

Health documents
Goal tracking

 

Health diary
Patient messaging a clinician

Bibliography

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