The Patient Portal—Help or Hindrance?

Posted by Becky, Volunteer Mentor @becsbuddy, Nov 1, 2022

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

vic83 | @vic83 | Nov 29, 2022

In reply to @adr "You have a right to your medical notes and all other medical information. If I don't..." + (show)

In the interest of helping them improve their systems, I let them know what doesn't work properly.

mikaylar | @mikaylar | Nov 29, 2022

In reply to @vic83 "I too have found several mistakes in my records. I have noted some "cut and paste"..." + (show)

This is scary because minor mistakes could be serious. Like when they show you weight 160 when you are 128 (or something). That could affect the quantity of the medicine you take. One doctor said, "I see you are allergic to aspirin." No, I take one every day. Just continue to monitor your records and be diligent EVERYONE!

vic83 | @vic83 | Nov 29, 2022

In reply to @mikaylar "This is scary because minor mistakes could be serious. Like when they show you weight 160..." + (show)

Very true. They got my surgery dates mixed up which implicated when I would go off dual platelet blood thinner - and that impacted when I could do the next surgery. Fortunately, we can see the records now

adr | @adr | Nov 29, 2022

In reply to @mikaylar "Me too. Before portals (and even now), I get a printed copy of the summary of..." + (show)

Agreed!

Valerie | @lacy2 | Nov 30, 2022

...one recent visit got copy of short report and the dr was a bit offhand with her comments, bordering on rudeness, i guess maybe she was tired from being in emerge all night etc., but now i know how she sees her patients/me, if i get her again i will view her differently.... and be very careful how i answer her questions etc!! she prejudged me, quite obvious, but in the long run doesnt matter, just nice to know how she really felt bout me 🙂

Pugpeople | @pugpeople | Dec 1, 2022

In reply to @lacy2 "...one recent visit got copy of short report and the dr was a bit offhand with..." + (show)

Wow, and you may want to get another doctor. Why go through that experience again when you don’t need too? Your relationship with your doctor should be a good one…..yes they all have different personalities…but rudeness and prejudging is not good. Wishing you the best.

collegeprof | @collegeprof | Dec 1, 2022

My experience has been nothing but positive. I also have several docs outside of Mayo, and when I compare their portal to Mayo, it is nothing short of day and night. There are some portals of outside docs where I cannot send to them "attachments" of recent bloodwork completed somewhere else, for example. Communication is limited in many cases which has not been my experience with Mayo. With Mayo, docs or their assistants respond quickly and are quite thorough with their responses. From my experience, it has been total care from Mayo.

JK | @contentandwell | Dec 2, 2022

In reply to @collegeprof "My experience has been nothing but positive. I also have several docs outside of Mayo, and..." + (show)

@collegeprof I have doctors at multiple hospitals and the portals vary greatly. The hospital my PCP is at has a terrible portal but the portal that many of my other doctors are on, Epic, is excellent. With some of my doctors I get the written report at check-out but that seems to be less common with many of my doctors and the message on the portal is there within a day.

Personally I do love the portal for the ability to write a note to the doctor that I know will be seen as I wrote it, not a spoken message that can be passed on to her inaccurately.
JK

nancy82415 | @nancy82415 | Dec 2, 2022

In reply to @collegeprof "My experience has been nothing but positive. I also have several docs outside of Mayo, and..." + (show)

@collegeprof I agree. Nothing can come close to my Mayo patient portal. This portal was my very first experience with this type of communication. So I got spoiled right away and the bar was set high for all other portals I now use. Those other portals are improving as they upgrade their systems. I guess it all comes with time.

❤️ Mayo sets the bar high in EVERYTHING that they do!! ❤️