The Patient Portal—Help or Hindrance?

I've found that my cardiologist doesn't even read my chart let alone read test results that don't directly deal with his care. I was going for a procedure that required I stop aspirin a week before it. Dr. says ok but when I asked about stopping the ace inhibitor and beta blocker as well he looked puzzled reviewed my chart and said that I can not stop any of the medications as they are necessary for my heart's health. Point is when he told me that I could stop the aspirin he wasn't aware that I had had a heart attack and had 4 stents. So not only do we have to read all the test results we have to make sure the doctor is aware of our medical issues when we go for our appointment.

@californiazebra, @dbeshears1, @amyb5 and all...You are all so on target. I love the Mayo portal. I've used it since beginning this Mayo journey. It provides me with prompt, timely, and generally helpful information I use to better understand my personal health. I was thrilled when I first went on the Mayo portal, as I've had horrible experiences with other medical offices/facilities and their attempts at a patient portal. Most were/are extremely frustrating and difficult to maneuver and are rarely used well by the medical staff. My PCP is with a large medical center in my city and now, just in the last months, have they developed something usable.

I'm not sure I love the new Mayo changes, but I'll adjust. I prefer the older version, but am learning to deal. I had a nuclear body scan this week and read the results yesterday. So many questions about the reading, but see the ordering doctor in July. I sent a portal message to her staff requesting clarification and called her admin to request her help for me to understand the results. She will contact me and explain what I read so I'll be informed and a happy girl.
This is the way I use it in addition to doing my own research following tests. I am my own and only advocate as learned through decades of poor medical communication and care. I'm very focused on knowledge. I want to know what's happening and why and what we can do to improve my situation, and my daily life. Mayo Clinic works well with this kind of patient, generally. The doctors I visit seem to appreciate my interest and questions, work with me openly and make joint decisions about my care. This is what I've fought for most of my life, since a young woman. I'm now 76 and my health is better in many ways than a decade ago. Because I see only Mayo doctors now other than the PCP-Mayo PCP don't accept Medicare so I'm not able to see them-I get better care, more insight into what and why, leading to better treatment.

I'm grateful for the Mayo system. I use the portal which provides positive guidance for me.
Blessings all, Elizabeth

I like your attitude! We have to want quality of life and do our part to help improve it. I can almost understand a doctor being frustrated with a patient who’s not trying to help themselves, and find they are the best partners with us when we’re willing to work hard and make smart health choices / then it’s s true win/win and they have victories they can share with us.

@casey1329

I agree that we need to be our own quality assurance expert. Doctors ask about medication allergies, I give them to them, and I can't tell you how many times they prescribe exactly what I'm allergic to or something chemically related. Not all doctors know their chemistry or look at their chart. Always look for contraindications if you have med allergies and check with the pharmacist regarding allergies and interactions before taking new meds.

In yesteryear, a lot of doctors resented a patient that was well informed as if threatened by it. But in today's world with so much information readily available to us (just use credible sources), I think doctors expect patients to become informed about their own conditions. The doctor has to do less explaining and isn't looking at a patient with a blank stare.

Also, no one has more time to dedicate to researching my health conditions than I do. A doctor's time is limited so help them out by asking informed questions.

I haven’t helped my care management a lot by moving 2 times in 4 years and having to change all of my doctors each time. Seems doctors read last report and just carry on without doing their own assessment. Occasionally one treats you like a brand new patient.
I have been in SC for a few months now and my first labs just came back with my LDL at 133, High vs 100 ideal, but I am pleased it has maintained & improved gradually from ~160 it was 4 years ago when the statin I was on was stopped. I most definitely have been watching my cholesterol. My PCP I had 4 years ago stopped the lowest dose statin because my liver enzymes increased significantly and she didn’t like the uncertainty of statin/Neuropathy link.
Yesterday morning I had a message from my mail order pharmacy that a prescription for that same low dose statin that was stopped 4 years ago is on its way. I later got a portal message from my new PCP saying “ Hi, your cholesterol (210 total, HDL and triglycerides fine) is higher than ideal, and I think it’s better for heart health to try a statin to lower it, so I’ve called in a prescription for you to try and we’ll monitor it”. I have never had a blockage and don’t have high BP, and my cardiologists have been ok with my 240 (now 210) total cholesterol.
It’s not her fault I have moved, and I like her so far, but I have history that needs to be reviewed, and portals help me gather the relevant data and notes to make sure she has what she needs to maybe reconsider her decision. Does she really want to repeat an identical statin experiment from 4 years ago to see if we get different results, at the expense of liver enzymes getting abnormal again and possibly hurting my PN?
I have an appointment with my new cardiologist next month to get care established and of course will use my orientation time to ask his opinion of my heart health and statin. I most certainly will not take a pill before then. I am afraid to go through that experience again but want to respect my new doctors thoughts on my care. In the meantime, the statin is in the mail and I have a message into my new PCP to just absolutely make sure she understands the thinking that went into my old doctor stopping that statin 4 years ago and why my doctors since then decided to keep me off statins as well.
The point is as you’ve made - we have to be on our toes, research & advocate for ourselves, or at least keep up with our own history, which the portals help us do. An egotistical doctor might be angry at my questions, but I have to believe most doctors would be appreciative that I have a need to understand their thoughts on balancing my health risks. If only things were so simple that what might help one issue a little didn’t come at the risk of further handicapping you or diminishing the function of another vital organ…

HI Debbie @dbeshears1

I just had my endocrinologist tell me I needed to be on a statin because my cholesterol is too high, but not outrageous in my opinion. I asked about statins and neuropathy (I already have) and he said there was a concern so he prescribed a weaker alternative. What if I hadn't asked? And this doctor really reviews my case. Hmmm. My neuropathy couldn't handle metformin either so a weaker med was prescribed. Both can cause severe stomach upset and that's a huge quality of life issue in my opinion so I've decided against taking either. I will just do what I can improving diet and exercise and hope for the best. I'm already on 3 cancer meds causing a lot of side effects including diabetes so I think I'll just live with the rest. You take one med then need to take more meds to deal with the side effects from the first med. It's a domino effect that I have to say no to sometimes.

With meds, you also have to watch out for pharmacies that just keep calling the doctor for refills and the doctor rubber stamps them without ever calling you back in. Again, be your own advocate there.

Right on, one has to be sure doctors are aware of clinical issues. Always read MyChart. I have caught serious discrepancies in Notes. And one should read test results!

I keep a binder of all my test results plus running record of all my appointments, the reason for going and the results of the visit. Most doctors like it and say things like, "I've made their job easier". So good luck with advocating for yourself. It's the only way to go in our busy high tech age. As far as taking a statin, I think there are several types and you might just need to find the one that works for you...good luck!

I really appreciate being able to access test results as soon as possible. It helps prepare me for my appointment with my doctor.