The Markle Foundation, a New York City-based public interest group, is calling on healthcare providers to adopt a "blue button" feature the Veterans Affairs Department has set up this week for its patients, which allows veterans to download personal health information, according to a Government Health IT report.
Veterans are now able to download their health records into an electronic health record simply by clicking a blue button that was made available to them through the MyHealtheVet website. After downloading, patients then can print out or save the information to their computers or other portable drives to bring to their healthcare providers, according to the report.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will also launch a "blue button" this October, which will be made available to program beneficiaries through the MyMedicare.gov patient portal.
Markle has suggested privacy policies needed to support the download function, including user authentication, security safeguards and patient education, according to the report.
Read the Government Health IT report about the "blue button".
Read other coverage on healthcare information technology:
- 6 Best Practices on Preventing Technical Errors When Using EHRs
- ONC Names Two Health Information Technology Review Bodies
- Spending on Health IT Projected to Increase 19% over Next Five Years
Veterans are now able to download their health records into an electronic health record simply by clicking a blue button that was made available to them through the MyHealtheVet website. After downloading, patients then can print out or save the information to their computers or other portable drives to bring to their healthcare providers, according to the report.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will also launch a "blue button" this October, which will be made available to program beneficiaries through the MyMedicare.gov patient portal.
Markle has suggested privacy policies needed to support the download function, including user authentication, security safeguards and patient education, according to the report.
Read the Government Health IT report about the "blue button".
Read other coverage on healthcare information technology:
- 6 Best Practices on Preventing Technical Errors When Using EHRs
- ONC Names Two Health Information Technology Review Bodies
- Spending on Health IT Projected to Increase 19% over Next Five Years