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The Patient Portal—Help or Hindrance?
We’ve always talked about quick access to all the information we want, when we want it. Gone are the days of ‘snail’ mail and encyclopedias. Now we have Patient Portals! And they are here to stay!
In 2016 the Cures Act went into effect, but the part that pertained to access to patient records wasn’t effective until April 2021. The Dept of Health and Human Services began enforcing the rule which declared that a hospital or doctor must allow access to a person’s health information. Failure to do so could result in fines for the doctor and hospital. Thus, the Patient Portal.
The result is that as soon as you have lab work, x-rays, CT scans, or a diagnostic test, YOU will receive the information (often before the doctor does.). This has led to much confusion and fright for many patients. A test result, read by a patient, out of context, or without a doctor’s explanation, can lead to confusion and anxiety and un-necessary emotional harm. I know this personally, when I received the results of my MRI well before my doctor. Seeing a report that stated “new lesions in areas of the brain,” really freaked me out!
In today’s world of instant gratification with computers, the emotional cost of instant access can be high.
- How have you been able to handle reports on the Patient Portal? What suggestions do you have for other members?
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Ah, one of my favorite topics!
1) The mandated posting of test results and doctor's notes IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO PATIENTS. Everyone should read their records or get someone to help them. The Doctor's notes remind me and/or give me more background on what he/she is really thinking. The test results and especially CT/PET/MRI scans describe findings. Because I could read the CT scan, I immediately requested my records be sent to Mayo. The local specialist was not knowledgeable and wanted to do certain tests that would have been risky for me. I also add that one should be sure your specialist has knowledge of your specific problem. There are subspecialties under the Specialist umbrella, so they are not all equal!
2) The flow of medical records between institutions still needs to be improved upon. Big places use EPIC, but smaller medical groups do the minimum required by law, and do not have the IT personnel to forward records. One issue I see regards tests with numbers like blood tests. If done in one big place they provide the ability to chart previous values. But when this test is sent to another institution, it goes as a "document" and not "data" so it cannot be analyzed easily (somebody would have to enter the data) .
IDEALLY all medical records should go to one big global database, and institutions treating the patient would pull the record down - that would provide one database design so information can be analyzed.
THE FUTURE - once we get everybody's clinical profile into a well-designed database, the potential for medicine is incredible. For example, one can track easily how a certain medication works for people with different blood types, of different ages, with different problems or whatever is relevant. Example is with Covid. States are tracking, but not all in the same way so we lose information. Ideally, they should tell you when you got vaccinated, time that passed from vaccination when you got Covid, profile of who is sicker etc. That would help in deciding best time for boosters
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4 ReactionsThanks for your very excellent information on patient records.
Patient portals are a necessity as they provide details which a physician may decide you do not need to know. I experienced this when a physician scheduled a biopsy, without informing me of the details and without my consent. The scan results clearly stated that a follow up scan should be done in 6 months. I has now been 5 years and I have not needed any invasive treatment.
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1 ReactionAbsolutely!! Unless you're a 'Doctor' ; you must read these reports knowing certain jargon is used in the medical field. Try not to be alarmed until you discuss it with your Doctor!!. They are trying to cover all the bases.
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3 Reactions@bustrbrwn22 You ask a good question about the use of EHR—“can you opt out?” I looked up the Colorado regional health information exchange and found a phone number. You could try the same for your state.
I, personally, don’t want to opt out because it is so handy for me that my medical records follow me everywhere: ER to doctor’s office to physical therapy. It save me lots of hassle.
Do you not feel safe having your information shared?
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2 ReactionsI find patient portal super useful, especially since I moved to a different state and was able to quickly retrieve my old records during my first appointment with a new doctor.
While biopsy and MRI results may be troubling for me, I prefer to be an informed patient. I like being able to see results early, and my doctors usually follow up a day or two after the results are in.
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5 ReactionsMy patient portal with a University regarding a SIBO test has led to confusion between My Doctor and a nurse. Now the nurse seems to have control over what the doctor said on my patient portal! I reported it, but could lead to the cancellation of my test. Do you think I should trust any of them?
@mariajean03 how unfortunate that there seems t be a conflict/misunderstanding between the doctor and nurse. Before you get into not trusting the medical staff, have you thought about setting up a meeting with the doctor? You want to discuss your health and what’s on the portal, NOT the disagreement. I would urge you to do that.
Will you call for an appointment this afternoon?
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5 ReactionsI've had frustration and anxiety from seeing that I have results in and the doctor hasn't spoken to me. I've even told them not to let me see it. They haven't been obeying, now I understand why. I guess I'll just make a decision to wait, or read them, depending on the type of result. It seems like the patient should be able to "opt out." I need the portal for appointments, etc.
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2 ReactionsThe Dr. is 2 hours away and I don't drive out of town. That's the problem! This patient portal stuff is my only link. I'll keep you updated. Thanks.