Can Your Patients Access Their Health Data?

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

Despite increased measures to allow patients to view their health data from the comfort of their own homes, a Health Mine survey found more than half lack the electronic means for access.

Patient portals and online networks only work if patients can access them, and according to a survey of over 500 consumers conducted by Health Mine, there is a large portion of patients who lack access to digital records.

The survey found 60 percent of respondents do not have or are unsure if they have all of their information stored in EHRs. Fifty-three percent of respondents said they cannot access all of their health data electronically and 30 percent of respondents reported difficulties accessing their health data when they needed it.

According to a Health Mine release, while the vast majority of physicians use EHRs, 60 percent of people say they are unsure, or do not have all of their health data stored in electronic records.

iHealth Beat notes that, of those who reported difficulties accessing their health data:

● 32 percent had difficulty accessing their medical record

● 31 percent had difficulty accessing their biometric information

● 29 percent had difficulty accessing their lab record

● 29 percent had difficulty accessing their insurance information

● 25 percent had difficulty accessing their prescription history

Bryce Williams, CEO and President of HealthMine said, “We should be long beyond the days where one doctor holds the chart and we don't get to see it — but we're not. Sitting in the driver's seat of health requires transparency of health data. Consumers must be able to see the road, the potholes, the landmarks. Having access to complete health information is essential to managing health and healthcare dollars — and every consumer should have it.”