Community Chat

[Spacrazy]

@phoenixbrd  In answer to your question, no, I do not use the portal system my doctor provides.

[JaneMarple]

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@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

Healthcare providers have been required by LAW to maintain electronic records for years.  So the records already exist.  Mychart is just a tool for the patient to access the records.  But whether the patient access the records or not, your doctor has been maintaining them for years.  I was surprised by what I saw there.  My doctor had entered a diagnosis for every minor complaint I have had, even when he had not provided any treatment.  So the information is entered differently than in the past, because it is standardized.  But the information exists elctronically whether you access it or not.

I don't think my doctor gave an option.  I was told to use it, so I did.  If you choose not to access it you may miss important information.  I know some older people don't know how to use i and won'tt, but the info is already there, entered by your healthcare provider.

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Everything you stated is the truth, our information is already on the web so why not access it? 

[bikerbabe]

Patient records are already electronic.

The patient portal just gives YOU access to it online as well.

[NYCLatinaMe]

Just to add, like other posters, I too call to make appointments or to ask for refills for drugs, or ask questions, because I don't know when they will get to electronic messages.  I like the human connection.  My doctor does call me with tests results as well.  But it's all there electronically.  We can access it.

When I was told to log in for the first time, it was in connection with an appointment, so it was for filling out the information we used to fill out on a piece of paper when we checked in.  So the electronic check-in replaces the paper check-in.

I am not sure all doctors are in the same system, so I am confused by that.  But I know before I signed in to my pcp's version of mychart the first time, my pcp had access to some prescriptions I had from another provider that I had not told him about, but no information regarding tests by a specialist from a different practice. so not sure how it all works.

[JaneMarple]

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@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

Just to add, like other posters, I too call to make appointments or to ask for refills for drugs, or ask questions, because I don't know when they will get to electronic messages.  I like the human connection.  My doctor does call me with tests results as well.  But it's all there electronically.  We can access it.

When I was told to log in for the first time, it was in connection with an appointment, so it was for filling out the information we used to fill out on a piece of paper when we checked in.  So the electronic check-in replaces the paper check-in.

I am not sure all doctors are in the same system, so I am confused by that.  But I know before I signed in to my pcp's version of mychart the first time, my pcp had access to some prescriptions I had from another provider that I had not told him about, but no information regarding tests by a specialist from a different practice. so not sure how it all works.

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I live on The Cape in Massachusetts where we have 2 hospitals and most doctors belong to Cape Cod Health Care. I have many doctors and they're able to see notes and test results from all if them belonging to this system. Since my meds are listed, there are no missteps in prescribing any meds that may interfere with one another.

I know that this is not true for everyone and everywhere but it's great for me not having to explain myself over and over. 

[JFD12]

Here in MA where I live, we call it patient gateway. I LOVE patient gateway! I have had more appointments these past 7 weeks that I can ever remember, including 2 surgeries!! I just left one appointment yesterday and have another tomorrow at the same cancer center. I was asked if I needed a card to remember my next appointment. I said, "no thank you, I will check patient gateway if I forget the time!" 🤪

I use patient gateway to read all lab results, doc notes, see when my appointments are and do an e-check-in beforehand. pay my co-pay, etc!! I also set one up recently for my husband... he is a bit older and stubborn, not sure if he's used it yet! 

But ... I highly recommend signing up for it!  The more you know! 🤗 👍

Oh, PS, many times I print lab results out and ask my medical family members what all this stuff means ... they're very helpful to me! 😊

[elated]

I use it all the time. I see no reason not to use this helpful tool. I pay bills and get notifications. I can read test results quickly. There is no drawback.

[Lynnabby]

It's wonderful to get test results right away. No waiting for Dr's office to inform you. Also I like to read correspondence between the Dr's.

[Sage04]

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@JaneMarple wrote:

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@NYCLatinaMe wrote:

Just to add, like other posters, I too call to make appointments or to ask for refills for drugs, or ask questions, because I don't know when they will get to electronic messages.  I like the human connection.  My doctor does call me with tests results as well.  But it's all there electronically.  We can access it.

When I was told to log in for the first time, it was in connection with an appointment, so it was for filling out the information we used to fill out on a piece of paper when we checked in.  So the electronic check-in replaces the paper check-in.

I am not sure all doctors are in the same system, so I am confused by that.  But I know before I signed in to my pcp's version of mychart the first time, my pcp had access to some prescriptions I had from another provider that I had not told him about, but no information regarding tests by a specialist from a different practice. so not sure how it all works.

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I live on The Cape in Massachusetts where we have 2 hospitals and most doctors belong to Cape Cod Health Care. I have many doctors and they're able to see notes and test results from all if them belonging to this system. Since my meds are listed, there are no missteps in prescribing any meds that may interfere with one another.

I know that this is not true for everyone and everywhere but it's great for me not having to explain myself over and over. 

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@NYCLatinaMeand @JaneMarple  I usually wonder how that works. I'm with Kaiser Permanente and all my doctors are in that Network.

If someone sees a doctor who is not in the Network would he know that the patient has a Portal?

[Love my grandkids]

I must be very lucky because whenever I've left a message for my PCP, my gastro doc's office or in the past, my oncologist, my calls have always been returned very promptly.

And the couple of times I've said it was urgent (and it was) I got called back within the hour.