PATIENT PORTALS: MEDICAL RECORDS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Patient portals are web sites that are connected to your medical records. You can use your patient portal to:

-track your medical history
-access your own medical records
-communicate with your doctor
-look at your lab and test results
-gain more control over your health
-make payments
-schedule appointments

all from your home computer or smart phone.

To access your patient portal, ask your doctor for a link. Use this link to register for an account. Follow these tips to keep your medical records safe:

-Do not give your account information, ID, or pass word to anyone else.

-If your patient portal has a "keep me signed in" option, do not check it if you're on a computer that others can use.

-Tell your doctor if someone else gets into your account, or if you can't access your account.

Using your patient portal can give you more control over your health care and your medical records, all at your convenience.

Kao, C. (2014, June 10). Three ways to calm patients’ concerns about patient portal security. Retrieved from https://www.carestream.com/blog/2014/06/10/three-ways-to-calm-patients-concerns-about-patient-portal-security/

Tulu, B., Trudel, J., Strong, D.M., Johnson, S.A., Sundaresan, D., & Garber, L. (2016). Patient portals: An underused resource for improving patient engagement. Science Direct, 149(1), 272-277. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.14-2559