What is the Health Provider Registry (HPRy)?

It is a central and authoritative source of where health practitioners work and can most effectively be contacted. The register includes GPs in SA, NT, Broken Hill and the western regions of Victoria, medical specialists in SA & NT and allied health professionals in SA.

What is the Health Provider Registry used for?

The HPRy's primary purpose is to facilitate the transfer of clinical patient information eg discharge summaries and referrals to specialists and allied health. The HPRy is also used to communicate public health alerts and information to doctors eg food poisoning and epidemics.

Who has access to the Health Provider Registry?

Any health related organisation or private practitioner that has a clinical need to communicate with health practitioners about their patients can apply to have access. The HPRy facilitates improved communication between Adelaide's eight metropolitan public hospitals and doctors via the Oacis computer system. The HPRy is also used by other hospitals (private, rural), health units and clinical services. Subject to conditions, your local Division, Allied Health professional body or Specialist College will have access to your details.

How does it benefit health practitioners and their patients?

• GP Referrals. General Practitioners are able to access the HPRy as a contact database for GP patients' referrals i.e. it will provide a service directory function.
• Saves time. Health practitioners only need to update their contact details once whenever they move (via their local Division of General Practice, Specialist College or Allied Health professional body). No longer do they have to notify two different departments in the one hospital or eight different hospitals.
• Health practitioners are able to specify their preferred mode of contact (electronic delivery* / fax / email / post).

* a future option: secure electronic delivery into your computerised medical records.
• Facilitates more timely and accurate distribution of patients' clinical information to health practitioners, from the eight major metropolitan public hospitals via electronic separation summaries (previously known as discharge summaries). The format and content have been developed following extensive private medical practitioner input.
• Enables public health alerts & information to reach all health practitioners efficiently

How do I have my details included on the Health Provider Registry?

All health practitioners will need to 'opt in' by filling in and signing the consent form. For copies of the consent form go to www.gpsa.org.au/hpry. A health practitioner can withdraw his/her consent at any time by contacting (08) 8271 8988.

How do I update my details if they change?

Assuming that you provide consent to the HPRy, your local Division, College or Allied Health professional body, can update your details on your behalf. This means you only need to notify your local Division, College or AH professional body. Alternately your practice can log onto www.healthproviders.com.au and update your details online (you must first apply online for a username and password by emailing hpry@gpsa.org.au ).

How is access to the Health Provider Registry controlled?

Electronic versions of the registry will be accessible to participating Health Provider Registry subscribers only. Access to the registry is password protected and encrypted, preventing general public access. The use of the registry by any person or organisation outside the terms of their agreement may result in termination of access to the Registry and possible legal proceedings under the Privacy Act 2000.

How is my personal information secured on the Health Provider Registry?

When the Health Provider Registry sends your contact details to hospitals and other users, the privacy of those details will be protected by encryption at the same high degree of security as used by financial institutions. Please note that the Internet is a public medium and that General Practice SA Inc cannot guarantee that encrypted information being sent via the Internet cannot be intercepted.

Where is my personal information being stored?

The Health Provider Registry will be stored on a secure hosted server within a professional ISP environment. This information can be reviewed or edited by you at any time, as stated in the 'How do I update my details' section of the HPRy brochure available at www.gpsa.org.au/hpry

Who owns the Health Provider Registry?

The Health Provider Registry is an initiative of General Practice SA Inc. The South Australian Department of Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing have sponsored the Health Provider Registry. The HPRy is supported by the Divisions of General Practice, Specialist Colleges and Allied Health professional bodies listed below. For a full Health Provider Registry privacy policy please go to www.gpsa.org.au/hpry

For further information about the Health Provider Registry, contact the Health Provider Registry team at hpry@gpsa.org.au or phone (08) 8271 8988 or free-fax 1800 00 11 40

Divisions

SA

• Adelaide Hills Division of General Practice
• Adelaide North East Division of General Practice
• Adelaide Northern Division of General Practice
• Adelaide Western General Practice Network
• Barossa General Practice Network
• Eyre Peninsula Division of General Practice
• Flinders and Far North Division of General Practice
• General Practice Network South
• GP partners Adelaide
• Limestone Coast Division of General Practice
• Mid North Division of Rural Medicine
• Murray Mallee General Practice Network
• Riverland Division of General Practice
• Yorke Peninsula Division of General Practice

NSW

• Riverina Division of General Practice and Primary Health (Incorporating Barrier Division)

NT

• General Practice Network NT

VIC

• Mallee Division of General Practice
• Otway Division of General Practice
• West Victoria Division of General Practice

Specialist Colleges

• Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (SA & NT Committee)
• Australasian College of Dermatologists (SA Faculty)
• Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (SA Branch)
• Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
• Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (SA Branch)
• Royal Australasian College of Physicians
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (SA State Committee)

Allied Health

• Audiological Society of Australia Inc.
• Australian Association for Exercise and Sport Science, SA Chapter
• Australian Association of Social Workers, SA Branch
• Australian Diabetes Educators Association, SA
• Australian Osteopathic Association, SA
• Australian Physiotherapy Association, SA Branch
• Australian Podiatry Association, SA
• Australian Psychological Association, SA Inc
• Chiropractors Association of Australia (National) Ltd, SA Branch
• Dietitians Association of Australia
• Institute of Private Practising Psychologists
• OT Australia SA
• Practice Nurse Network
• Psychology Association SA (PASAB)
• Speech Pathology Australia, SA Branch
• The Pharmacy Guild, SA Branch

For enquiries please email hpry@gpsa.org.au or phone (08) 8271 8988.