Some Cleveland patients get on-line access to their medical charts

[David Baxter PhD]

Patients are Getting On Line Access to Their Own Charts
October 28, 2007

A big "thumbs up" to Toby Cosgrove, CEO of Cleveland Clinic for being the champion of "My Chart", a program that allows patients, through password protected access, to obtain information from their own chart. As patients become "ePatients" and increasingly assume responsibility for their own health care decisions, they will demand this type of access to their own lab results and other health information. In addition, Dr. Cosgrove's patient portal allows them to request prescription refills and ask for second opinions.

Since so much good (and bad) health information is available online, this access to your own chart, and having a portal to communicate with professional health providers on line is the big "missing" piece in the e Patient revolution.

 

[just mary]

That is really neat.

Though I can imagine that keeping it secure and confidential must be very difficult. If someone's personal chart were to get into the hands of someone else, there would be quite an uproar.

I've always wanted to look at my chart but I'm too afraid to ask the doctor. I have sneaked a peak while waiting for him but I always feel guilty afterwards. Did I mention that I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat?