Loading...
Some electronic health records (EHRs) provide portals for patients to access their medical records and laboratory tests; some also allow e-mail communication with physicians. Financial and regulatory pressures likely will increase use of patient portals in the future. Patients seem enthused about such access, physicians are often concerned about it, and health economists hope access leads to less expensive, higher-quality medical care. Two studies provided an early look at these issues.
In one study, more than 100 primary care physicians and 13,000 patients voluntarily participated in a program that gave patients access to their physicians' clinic notes. Of patients who opened at least one note and completed satisfaction surveys (about 400f …