MyChart (Patient Portal) (2024)

FAQs

What are the disadvantages of patient portals? ›

Patient portals can inadvertently contribute to alienation between patients and healthcare providers, particularly among populations with limited access to these online tools. Individuals with lower health literacy may be resistant to using patient portals due to the potential for confusion and misunderstanding.

A member of the care team will “look at the chart and if they can figure it out, then they'll just respond. It is “a relatively small percentage of messages that actually find their way to the doctor,” Dr. Hopkins added. “This is something to be used for communication with their care team, not just the physician.”

Messaging your doctor can be a convenient way to get medical advice. You can send a note through MyChart whenever you have time – day or night – and your provider will typically reply in one to three business days.

Some test results are not released to your MyChart account because of their sensitive nature. Your doctor determines which types of test results are able to be accessed through MyChart and which might require an in person conversation.

Lack of online medical records - Roughly 32% of patients reported not having an online medical record, which is a prerequisite for utilizing a patient portal. Limited internet access - Approximately 25% of patients cited a lack of internet access as a barrier to using patient portals.

The most common barriers to patient portal adoption are preference for in-person communication, not having a need for the patient portal, and feeling uncomfortable with computers, which are barriers that are modifiable and can be intervened upon.

MyChart gives you access to your health information and a direct connection to your care team, with tools to help you actively participate in your care.

Patient portals can help you access medical records, set up appointments, communicate with your health care professional, and pay medical bills.

Patient portals and HIPAA compliance can be achieved if they meet the standards set forth by the HIPAA. To be compliant, HIPAA-complaint portals must ensure that all protected health information (PHI) is secure and accessible only by authorized personnel.

Disclosing bad news by phone has become more common since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this meta-analysis of 11 studies (including 4 randomized trials), researchers assessed differences in patients' psychological distress due to disclosure of bad news by phone or in person.

Is it safe to use MyChart? ›

Yes. myChart is secure, which means your information is safe and protected.

Use MyChart Message Center to have conversations with your doctor or other clinic staff, ask non-emergency medical questions, send test results to your provider from another provider or network, and even upload your official COVID-19 vaccination record.

Remember there are many reasons why a healthcare provider will contact you after a medical test. If results are concerning, they may call you or have a receptionist call to schedule an appointment. 15 A healthcare provider may also call to assure you everything is okay or discuss any needed follow-up tests.

With limited exceptions, the HIPAA Privacy Rule (the Privacy Rule) provides individuals with a legal, enforceable right to see and receive copies upon request of the information in their medical and other health records maintained by their health care providers and health plans.

All lab results are compared to a standard guideline for what is considered “within normal range.” These standards were developed as a guide but are not absolute. You will see an exclamation point (!) next to the result if it's outside of the normal range, but that isn't necessarily a cause for concern.

The Cost of RPM

Perhaps the biggest problem RPM can face is the cost to roll it out in the healthcare industry. These include per-unit costs, licensing costs, and software costs. The technical staff that manages and maintains the system is also a huge cost.

10 Disadvantages Of Electronic Health Records

The systems may require ongoing maintenance and updates. The systems may be prone to technical problems or downtime. The systems may not be compatible with all devices or software. There may be issues with data security and privacy.

Patient portals have privacy and security safeguards in place to protect your health information. To make sure that your private health information is safe from unauthorized access, patient portals are hosted on a secure connection and accessed via an encrypted, password-protected logon.