More research is needed to determine if immediate and direct patient access to laboratory results will benefit patients and healthcare providers, according to a commentary in The Journal of the American Medical Association.
In mid-September, HHS proposed changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 and HIPAA privacy regulations to allow patients access to test results directly from labs.
The authors said that while limiting patient access to these results may discourage patient engagement, immediate and direct access without a physician's interpretation may create unnecessary anxiety for patients. In addition, they said there is little evidence on the effect of patient lab access on physician workload, workflow and follow-up with patients.
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In mid-September, HHS proposed changes to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 and HIPAA privacy regulations to allow patients access to test results directly from labs.
The authors said that while limiting patient access to these results may discourage patient engagement, immediate and direct access without a physician's interpretation may create unnecessary anxiety for patients. In addition, they said there is little evidence on the effect of patient lab access on physician workload, workflow and follow-up with patients.
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