Giving patients the opportunity to access and view their electronic health records both improves patient experience and encourages stronger patient engagement in care management, according to a study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Researchers convened five focus groups of the 30 patients participating in the My HealtheVet Pilot at the Portland (Ore.) Veterans Administration Medical Center.
Patients reported that being able to see their EHR positively affected communication with their physician, increased their knowledge of their medical conditions and allowed them to participate more fully in their care management. Negative outcomes were only experienced when the EHR contained previously unshared information, derogatory language or confusing inconsistencies.
"Viewing their records appears to empower patients and enhance their contributions to care, calling into question common provider concerns about the effect of full record access on patient well-being," said the study's authors.
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