What is health information?
Under the Health Information and Records Privacy Act 2002 (NSW), health information is information or an opinion about: • the physical or mental health or a disability of an individual • an individual’s express wishes about the future provision of health services to him or her • a health service provided, or to be provided, to an individual • other personal information collected in connection with the donation of human tissue • genetic information that is, or could be, predictive of the health of an individual or their relatives or descendants • any other personal information collected to provide, or in providing, a health service
Health information is information collected by health service providers in the course of providing you with a health service, including any activity intended to assess, record, maintain or improve your health. Typically the information will be about your: • physical, mental and psychological health, including any disabilities • past and present symptoms and diagnoses • past and present treatments • pathology and Xray results • medications • admissions and discharges from hospitals and day surgery centres • donation of body parts • genetic makeup, including any predictions about your or your descendants future health. It also includes health information collected while: • providing palliative care • providing disability and rehabilitation services • applying for health concessions and benefits • applying for superannuation and general, life and travel insurance • registering for weight loss and fitness programs. It also includes any personal information, such as your: • name • address •
Health information may be defined as information on a continuum between health education and health promotion. Therefore access to health information may contribute to health education and promote healthy lifestyle choices. ” Information is the first step to every healthy choice. Improvements in our health depend on us taking control over, and responsibility for, health as an important component of our everyday lives. This active participation requires full and continuing access to information: information about our bodies, their workings in health and illness, and the services available to us in treatment and care, support and co-operation” (Gann, 1986) A literature search has revealed little or no evidence of the expressed needs of adolescents addressed in the provision of health information within the community setting.
