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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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"...an Apple vs. PC discussion!!!" maybe 25 years ago and only then for the less than savy. track pad. why would you need a usb port for a "wireless" mouse?
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2 ReactionsI got my records sent to me from California to Georgia, I had to sign a medical release waiver but they were delivered today. Had no problem
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1 ReactionLike everything else in the medical world, one size does not fit all. I think we each need to be aware of our own personalities and preferences and how we function as human beings, not just as people with diseases. That said, I like the portal because I like info quickly and can generally figure it out. However, I have friends who simply wait to get the results from their physicians. Some of this may be generational--Millennials (which I am not!) seem to prefer the portal. But I'd say stick to your own approach and manage anxiety and use support systems. Also, my experience has been such a roller coaster--I try not to react too much to "good"and "bad" news if possible.
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7 ReactionsI've linked the doctors and hospitals that are in the system and have no trouble getting medical records. I recommend print on both sides it saves paper...good luck !
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2 ReactionsI do see you point about not fixing but throwing out. It at first glance seems wasteful. However, I also think that technology keeps advancing at such a rapid pace that an electronic item that is a few years old may no longer be desirable and so no pint in fixing.
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1 ReactionAgreed, at a certain point the operating system no longer updates....
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1 ReactionTransparency is always a good thing.
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3 ReactionsI love the Patient Portal I have with my doctors at Duke University. My questions are answered, my reports are up and ready to read.
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3 ReactionsI absolutely love the portal! Getting test results back prior to meeting with my doctor allows me time to look things over, do research, and start making a list of questions. It used to be that when I would meet with my doctor to get the results, I would leave and then have a million questions, and we all know how hard it is to communicate with your team, playing phone tag, etc.
I understand the portal is not for everyone so you just have to do you. Getting labs and scans done, then waiting for a week for results used to create more anxiety for me. Now I actually get some of my blood results back while I'm still waiting to scan. And more often than not, I have scan results before I get half way home (I drive a little over 2 hours for these appointments).
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7 ReactionsHello, @vic83 I am what is called a PACS Administrator. I build and maintain the computers that hold and distribute radiology exam images. Every hospital has a network of computers that store your exam images. Just like your home computer holds files of your family photos but with a little more finesse.
We use 3rd party companies that set up connections to many hospitals. We than “push” (officially called a DICOM data transfer) images and bounce them around till they get to where they need to be. Keep in mind this bounce only takes a few min. It however is only images, no radiologist reports. I would also strongly recommend asking for a disk of your images. Nothing is more dependable at delivery than you. But pushing them works really well.
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