Efforts are being made to ensure patients have timely access to their health information. The recently launched Trusted Exchange and Common Agreement FrameworkTM (TEFCA) includes individual access services to ensure a core set of data will be available among networks governed by the Common Agreement to enable individuals to access and manage their health information. In 2020, 12% of individuals reported delays in receiving test results. To support patients’ right to access their electronic austria number data health information in a timely manner, ONC implemented information blocking provisions of the Cures Act, which in addition to prohibiting practices that are likely to interfere with, prevent, or discourage access, exchange, or use of electronic health information, call for the immediate release of test results to patients. Recent evidence shows that patients that immediately receive test results through their portal, rather than waiting for a call from their clinician, want to continue receiving that information immediately rather than waiting on their clinicians to deliver results. However, concerns exist about the potential negative consequences of sharing test results without the providers’ explanation, and continued monitoring will be important.
growth in patient access, it is important to acknowledge and address existing inequities. Despite substantial growth in patient engagement over the past decade, several studies have documented disparities in patient access by race and ethnicity, education, income, and other socio-demographic factors. Differences in health literacy, language barriers, privacy concerns, and limited internet access are other persistent barriers to achieving widespread patient access and use of information contained in online medical records. ONC provides resources for patients on how to access their health information online using different methods and how to use, share and manage their health information. Continued monitoring is needed to inform efforts aimed at alleviating persistent barriers and ensuring patients have equitable opportunities to access their health information electronically.
In the last decade, web-based patient portals have become widely available for enabling patient access and use of electronic health information, and app-based access has made it even easier for patients to access this information. Looking forward, ONC will continue efforts to ensure patients have timely and secure access to their health information online, and that health IT developers can support novel uses of data valued by patients. Now that many patients have experienced the benefits of accessing their data for the first time, it will be important to continue to advance patient engagement capabilities that will drive patient demand for accessing and using information that can help improve health and healthcare for all.