Many Americans have experienced the hassle of getting their own medical records. The process is complex—calling different phone numbers, signing forms, sending faxes, making photocopies, paying fees—and often deters people from accessing their records at all.
That is until now. Thanks to some creative developers and support from the Federal government, users will be able to simply and quickly download their own medical records with the click of a blue button.
This easy-to-use, online system will not only reduce the hassle involved with getting medical records, it will encourage people to review their medical records and become more active in their own health care. Plus, users will be able to share their records with physicians and family members online.
According to Stephen Downs of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Group, there’s another reason why digital medical records matter: apps.
Many [existing health apps], and many that will soon be invented, could be even better if they could draw upon the information contained in your medical records – to spot trends in your lab values and warn you when a trend is of concern; to correlate your moodiness with a new medication you’re taking; or to remind you it’s time order that prescription refill, to name a few.
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