The Patient Portal—Help or Hindrance?

I work in technology as an account manager (client advocate). It is possible for these institutions to set up processes for a PA, Doctor, or other to reach out to the patient. The distress to patients is unnecessary and damaging. These institutions' role is to provide health care. We are all aware of the impact of stress yet this is not being addressed. It's mind-blowing to me.

I 'discovered' my tumor based on a CT scan that was delivered to me on a Friday at 4:00 pm without any human interaction. It was devastating. I spent the weekend trying to understand what I was reading. This is unacceptable yet it's the norm. In fact, every MRI/CT is delivered without any phone call after I've had numerous. conversations about this very topic. The guise of 'transparency' is a deflection from making the necessary change and establishing a process that works for staff and patients. Let's put humanity back into patient care.

I should note that my post refers to medical care within and outside of the Mayo.

@greatdayinmt67 Great observation!

It’s a tough one. I “discovered” my tumor in a report I happened across 8 months after a CT scan, in which a medical university erroneously failed to inform me or my PCP. By the time I found it, I was moving to a new state, so the further testing and biopsy to check for cancer was done by a different medical organization. Patient portals had improved more by then, and a patient could see that a report was complete, but couldn’t read it until the doctor had electronically reviewed it and released it to the patient. For 4 agonizing days I logged into my portal at least 20 times a day to see if the report had its status changed to “released for patient review”. I wasted a lot of time obsessed and waiting during those 4 days that finally ended with the phone call from the doctor, and I guess the results were what I had told myself the wait must have been about - Cancer. The result would have been the same if I had read it myself 4 days earlier, just a different frame of mind and mode I would have been in knowing versus wondering. But if it would have been NOT CANCER, I wouldn’t have been stressed with wonder those four days. Now with the new law, the results are directly available to me, so I jump right into the electronic reports the same afternoon and happily have read “no cancer” for 2 years now before the doctors make me wait until a follow up call or visit to hear it. The great news in all of this is that it’s a choice; no one is forced to enroll in the patient portals or click on reports. But because of that hospital error in omitting to share a vital result of a scan with me, I choose to be a better partner and advocate in my health to help their busy workloads so my results aren’t overlooked again.

That is strange. At Mayo I always have an appointment after a CT scan or MRI to go over the results. Typically it is the same day but occasionally it is the next day. The law says the results have to be available to the patient without delay and this is part of the problem that we have been talking about here. Most patients are not able to properly interpret results of radiology scans and can make bad assumptions. The law makes this possible. The health care providers want to give you a proper interpretation but it becomes a scheduling issue. I experienced this myself by reading a radiology report after my chemo and radiation therapy as soon as it was available and making a bad interpretation. I was very worried until I received a proper interpretation from my care team. Now I don't read those reports ahead of time even though it is very tempting. I just bring a printed copy to my appointment and we discuss it. This works great!

Does Mayo use “MyChart?
If they don’t then you won’t be able to use it for Mayo.

One of the hospitals I stayed at was a hospital that had its own portal so using MyChart was fruitless . Too bad because you have several different portals that can’t be linked together so that they can all be on the same page.
MyChart has a searchable database of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies etc..
Just type the name of the hospital either by state, name of hospitals or zip codes.

Info-addict portal.
I am addicted to checking results; want to know.

Sometimes, it's too much because I am not a MD and cannot adequately decipher info.

However, seeing my biopsy report on a Friday evening, it was clear that I had aggressive cancer (8s & a 9).
And that enabled me to process over the weekend and get started Monday with a 2d opinion appt at a center of excellence and I am certain it saved me time to RP.

It can be disconcerting; or very helpful; or both at the same time.

Penultimate example of patient empowerment, albeit upsetting.

I understand your position very well. I also think that for those of us who choose to read the reports (and Google like crazy to try to understand the hard stuff) that it is IMPERATIVE to honor the doctors' schedule he gives us for reviewing results with us. They have many patients and reports to review, and in some cases get second opinions or next steps lined up if necessary. In fact, I think it's rude to contact them before the deadline they have given. That has to fit into the equation in one's decision to read reports in advance, or just wait until the doctor is ready. (I would still read the report with them though, to make sure they don't skim over anything you may want to question)

I LOVE IT!!!!!!! I have instant access to my medical appointments, tests, lab results, AND I can communicate with my Doctor's via message. As a patient that works full-time nights (6pm-6a) at my job, it's so convenient to drop a note to my doctor when I am awake and can think clearly. I have been using patient portal for the past 5 years or longer and think it is wonderful!

Special Blessings,
Sherry

I have found My Chart summaries are often inaccurate. The last surgical summary said I was 172 pounds male (I weight 115) and 6.1 feet tall (I am 5.7). Another surgeon said I had no rash, walked well, straight leg test, vital signs good and went to describe the physical which I did not have. The doctor never saw me walk and never touched by body remaining on the computer across the large room. A neurologist summary said I had a cognitive dysfunction. When the doctor called to explain test results she never mentioned the cognitive problem. When asked she admitted it was an error due to voicing the summary.
So My Chart can helpful it also can be unreliable.