Today, Epic Systems Corporation launched their free MyChart application (app) for the iPhone, iPad and iTouch which at our medical center. The app provides the following functionalities:
- Test Results: View test result values and standard ranges for each result.
- Messaging: View and reply to messages in the Inbox, and create new medical advice request messages.
- Appointments: View and confirm or cancel upcoming appointments, and view some After Visit Summary information for past appointments.
- Health Advisories: View preventive care procedures and their due dates.
- Health Summary: View medications, allergies, immunizations, and current health issues.
- Proxy Access: View all features listed above for family members.
This functionality permits patients access to portions of the actual electronic medical record used by their doctors in a mobile format. A license agreement must be entered into by the patient that permits the use of their iPhone’s UDID (unique serial number ID) to be collected, transmitted, and stored on their medical center’s designated server for troubleshooting and “audits.” As such, user data will be shared with others within the scope of the licensure agreement, including third parties. (Interestingly, “Apple will have the right to enforce the terms of the Licnse against you as a third party beneficiary thereof.”) Still, I suspect most will consider this a very small price to pay for timely access to one’s health information.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
The following providers offer this functionality so far: Baylor Clinic (TX), Buffalo Medical Group, PC, (NY), Dean Clinic (IL/WI), Dreyer Medical Clinic (IL), GHCMyChart (WI), Hawaii Pacific Health (HI), Loyola Medicine (IL,WI, IN), Mercy Health System (IL, WI), Aspirus (MI, WI), The Institute of Family Health (NY), NorthShore University HealthSystem (IL), Oregon Health and Science University (OR, WA), SSM Medical Groups (MI, IL), Sutter Health (CA), Weill Cornell (NY), Wildwood Family Clinic, (IL, WI).
Yep. The wave of the future.
Westby G. Fisher, MD, FACC is a board certified internist, cardiologist, and cardiac electrophysiologist (doctor specializing in heart rhythm disorders) practicing at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, IL, USA and is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. He entered the blog-o-sphere in November, 2005. He writes regularly at Dr. Wes. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this blog are strictly the those of the author(s) and should not be construed as the opinion(s) or policy(ies) of NorthShore University HealthSystem, nor recommendations for your care or anyone else's. Please seek professional guidance instead.
