Online Health Care - The Final Frontier?
While scheduling a doctor's appointment recently, I advised the receptionist that I needed to update my file to reflect a new last name. As I braced myself for the torturous process of spelling out both of my equally long, hard-to-pronounce names, the receptionist instead informed me that I needed to go online and make the changes on the practice's new website.
A day later, I visited the site and discovered that not only could I update my last name, but request copies of medical records, obtain a referral, and even submit a prescription refill request. However, as I clicked over to "Update Information," I realized that I could not just make a quick name swap but had to update my complete profile and provide my husband's name, address, insurance information, primary care physician's name, and a bevy of other details. And for just a moment, I hesitated.
I'm no stranger to the Internet. Like many, I send dozens of emails daily, make eBay purchases, and use networking sites freely. I send out E-vites for big events. I check my friend's blog every day to see pictures of her babies. (As you may have noticed, I even have my own blog.) And yet, I hesitated.
While many of us tend to balk when faced with new experiences, was this REALLY a new experience? Understandably, many people have concerns about sending their health secrets into cyberspace. For example, A Wall Street Journal blog entry cites the case of a patient who was given an incorrect diagnosis after an electronic record mixup. Others believe the terminology in privacy legislation will mislead consumers about their privacy rights.
However, should a population that is addicted to and enamored by the Internet really be concerned about electronic health records? After all, we are constantly spilling our secrets online. For instance, a sports fan who wants to buy tickets online will need to enter an address, credit card number, and phone number. Anyone making online student loan payments will most likely key in a social security number or mother's maiden name at some point. We not only divulge who our spouses are online, but post pictures of them on Facebook or "tweet" about their annoying habits. And while medical information may be a bit less frequently shared, all it takes is a misplaced consonant in an email address to send that message about your chronic eczema to a co-worker instead of a sibling or best friend.
Given the foregoing, it seems probable that most of the trepidation surrounding online medical records is the result of unfamiliarity or misunderstanding of such a systems, as opposed to genuine privacy fears. While patients may need to adapt to web-based health care, given the success and ease with which the Internet has permeated all other aspects of our everyday lives - personal and professional - it will be only a matter of time before e-health is the norm rather than the new kid on the block.
In the meantime, providers making the switch to web-based or electronic health records can take a few steps to help boost patient confidence and make the transition easier. For example, providers should ensure that privacy policies are made available to patients and explained in layman's terms. Most importantly, patients should understand how their health information will be used, who it may be shared with, and what rights they have to access their own records. Patients should also be encouraged to ask questions and directed to secondary resources if necessary.
For more information about setting up an online health practice, providers should contact an experienced health care attorney.
