Patients with Online Access to Medical Records Use More Services

Office and emergency department visits, telephone calls, and hospitalizations all rose when online access was available and used.

Electronic health record (EHR) systems are capable of providing portals for patients to access medical records and laboratory tests, as well as to communicate with physicians by e-mail. Some studies suggest, and enthusiasts hope, that virtual visits and physician communications by e-mail will decrease need for face-to-face medical visits, improve outcomes, and lower costs.

Through an integrated healthcare system in Denver that uses a comprehensive EHR with a patient portal, researchers compared about 44,000 members who voluntarily signed up for online access to medical records and clinician e-mail with 44,000 who did not. The two groups were matched for demographics, chronic disease burden, and baseline office visits. Portal users attended a…

Reviewing Author

Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

Disclosures

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