Study Has eCW EMR Users Questioning the Future of Patient Engagement
Patient engagement is a buzzword often used in accord with Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software. A proactive, interactive approach is an integral part of new health care models brought about by the Affordable Care Act and new guidelines within HIPAA legislation. HIPAA mandates that patients have the right to restrict certain medical records from third-party distribution. In theory, that means if an insurance company or another physician requests medical records from a health care provider, the patient has the right to say he or she wants part of the record restricted. However, a recent study shows the importance of balancing patient engagement with quality care. The research, led by the Regenstrief Institute in partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine and Eskenazi Health, is raising concerns about just how far patient engagement, specifically access, should go. How much access should patients get to their medical records? Consider the study’s findings.
The Trial
The study included a six-month trial of 105 patients that were part of a Eskenazi primary care clinic. The participants were granted patient controlled access to their EMR, meaning they could choose what information their doctors were able to access. Almost 50 percent admitted they hid certain information from some or all of their providers. The data most commonly blocked from physicians was dealing with sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse or mental health. For the trail, providers were able to override patient preferences and view the information the patient blocked.
Mixed Feelings
Providers had mixed feelings about the trial. Some felt privacy laws give patients the right to control their EMR, even if that means hiding information. However, these physicians admitted that patients need to understand hiding information can have dangerous consequences. Other doctors “strongly objected” to patients having this authority. They expressed concern about patient care and physician liability if improper care was the result of insufficient data. Other providers expressed concern that patients may not reveal sensitive data at all if they do not have the right to choose which providers have access to it.
The transition to EMR is happening rapidly and there’s no doubt the technology will continue to evolve. Physicians can count on EMR Billing Solutions to keep up with the latest research and legislation to provide the most efficient, user-friendly system available. Let our experts help your office get the most out of eClinicalWorks® (eCW).