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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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I totally agree. Sorry you and your husband are dealing with this. At least you are with the very best medical yeam in USA!! I will pray for each of you. HE IS ALWAYS HERE FOR US AND OUR DOCTORS. MAY HE BLESS EACH OF YOU!!!!!
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1 ReactionAbsolutely! I might add that I find it’s a lot easier to explain what I mean in a text rather than the phone. I really don’t like talking on the phone.
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4 Reactions@karen1945 I also like the patient portal to send messages because then what I want to say to the doctor gets to the doctor in my words, not interpreted by a nurse who answered the phone. Also, for me it works well because I have a hearing impairment and it's much easier to communicate in writing than on the phone.
JK
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8 ReactionsI've found that keeping a typed,dated, running record of all doctor appointments, giving the doctor's name,why I went and what was the outcome to be very useful because at my age I can't remember everything. I also ask for a copy of every test, procedure etc. All of this is put into a binder which I bring to all my appoints. It also includes insurance information. Doctors in general really like it...good luck !
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2 Reactions@casey1329, @becsbuddy, @gingerw, @artscaping, and all...Thanks Casey, for your good advice. This is a problem with this office for years. I've mentioned, complained and been quite verbal through the years, but no improvement. Often can't reach a person for hours or days!
With the new system, the same company Mayo uses, I had high hopes for improvement. It is much better....but the staff stil is horribly slow to respond. They have still not responded to the iron test results that are very important.
I'll chat with him in person and see what happens.
I'm just not willing to allow this kind of stress cause continued issues. No more.
Be blessed.
Elizabeth
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4 ReactionsMy husband has lung cancer and we love getting the test results online from his CT scans. It's good to know as soon as possible what the actual situation is; whether it's good or bad. My husband's last full body scan showed a very small amount of growth of 2 nodules but there were many nodules that were unchanged which is good. Also there were 11 mentions of other parts of his body being "unremarkable." If it's "unremarkable" it can't be bad!
In other types of tests, early information helps you take steps to improve the problem. If you are low in a certain level such as Potassium, look up what foods have Potassium in them and eat more of them. Also when you come across a term like Creatinine; (What is that?) just go to the Mayo Clinic and look it up.
Patients need more information not less; especially when their doctors are very over worked these days and can't often see them for weeks or months.
PML
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7 ReactionsYes! I find the response is quicker when I use the portal rather than the phone.
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6 ReactionsAny time I have seen something i simply messsge th md office thru the patient portal. I have always received a response within 24 hours, sometimes a next day phone call. Much better than waiting weeks for sn appointment
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6 ReactionsBefore you write off your doctor of 25 yrs. make sure that he got the messages you sent him. I say this because I was getting annoyed with a friend who hadn't answered my 2 emails asking if she wanted to see a show. When I finally ran into her I found out that she never saw the emails. She is more into texting and very rarely even looks at her emails.
However, a two week wait for blood work is unacceptable. Perhaps calling the office, everyday if need be, to ask for the results. Here again could be an honest mistake...good luck !
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4 ReactionsBy seeing the test results and other documents ourselves we also know what questions to ask. Knowledge is power. If we don’t know the facts, we don’t know what to ask.
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