Individuals’ use of online medical records and technology for health needs
- PMID: 39808041
- Bookshelf ID: NBK610653
Individuals’ use of online medical records and technology for health needs
Excerpt
Individuals’ electronic access and use of their health information will be critical towards enabling individuals to better monitor their health as well as manage and coordinate their care. Past efforts sought to provide individuals the capabilities to view, download, and transmit their patient health information. Building on these efforts, the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) includes provisions to improve patients’ access and use of their electronic health information via a single, longitudinal format that is secure and easy to understand. The Cures Act also calls for patients to be able to electronically share their information. Online access to medical records, such as through patient portals, enable patients and caregivers to access their health information. Mobile health apps and devices connected to a providers’ electronic health record system using open application programming interfaces (APIs) will also allow individuals to collect, manage, and share their health information. Using the National Cancer Institute’s 2017 Health Information Trends Survey, we report on access and use of online medical records and the use of technology such as smartphones, tablets, and electronic monitoring devices (e.g. Fitbits, blood pressure monitors) for health related needs.
Sections
- In 2017, half of individuals nationwide reported they had been offered online access to their medical record by a health care provider or insurer
- Almost 3 in 10 individuals were offered access to their online medical record and viewed their record at least once within the past year
- Among individuals who were offered an online medical record, more than half accessed their record at least once within the past year
- Individuals encouraged by their health care provider to use their online medical record were nearly two times more likely to access their online medical record compared to those who were not encouraged
- The top 2 reasons cited by individuals for not accessing their online medical record within the past year were their "preference to speak to a provider directly" and "perceived lack of need."
- At least three-quarters of individuals who accessed their online medical record within the past year reported that it included laboratory test results, current list of medications, and summaries of their office visits
- Individuals who accessed their online medical record used it to view test results, perform health-related tasks and communicate with health care providers
- Eight in 10 individuals who accessed their online medical record reported that it was both easy to understand and useful
- Nearly one-in-five individuals care for or make health care decisions for someone with a medical or behavioral condition or disability
- Nearly one-quarter of caregivers accessed their care recipienťs online medical record at least once within the last 12 months
- More than four in 10 smartphone or tablet owners possessed a health or wellness app
- More than four in 10 smartphone or tablet owners used their devices to track progress on a health-related goal
- Summary
- Definitions
- Data Source and Methods
- References
- Acknowledgements
- Appendix
References
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- 21st Century Cures Act, section 4006. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-114publ255/pdf/PLAW-114publ255.pdf
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- National Cancer Institute. Health Information National Trends Survey (2017). https://hints.cancer.gov/
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- Patel V., Barker W. & Siminerio E. (October 2015). Trends in Consumer Access and Use of Electronic Health. ONC Data Brief, no.30. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology: Washington DC. https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/briefs/oncdatabrief30_acces...
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- Ibid.
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- Improving the Health Records Request Process for Patients: Insights from User Experience Research. The Office of the National Coordinator. https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/onc_records-request-researc...
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