US Patients Now Have Digital Access to Their Electronic Health Records

blue digital binary data on computer screen. Close-up shallow DOF

Earlier this month, US patients gained access to their full health records. The new federal laws give patients unprecedented access to their electronic health records (EHR) in digital form, upon request. This move is meant to end the widespread practice of information blocking, wherein patients had limited access to their data all while it is sold to private data brokers.

According to Cary Ross, “Even with the rules now in place, health data experts said change will not be fast or easy. Providers and other data holders — who have dug in their heels at every step  —  can still withhold information under certain exceptions. And many questions remain about protocols for sharing digital records, how to verify access rights, and even what it means to give patients all their data. Does that extend to every measurement in the ICU? Every log entry? Every email? And how will it all get standardized?”

To read more, click here.

(Source: STAT News, October 6^th, 2022)