ABSTRACT
The site includes guidance provided by patients, too. Patients are encouraged to sign up for the service through a wide variety of communication channels. Information is provided to help them understand the issues surrounding access to individual health records, including demonstrating the capability with a test patient record prior to their signing up for the service. The explicit consent process is continual and can be revoked if patient access is deemed unsafe or if a patient chooses to stop access. Patients describe improved relationships with care providers, the ability to better manage and track their own, and in some cases, their family’s health matters, a more thorough understanding of their own health, the ability to identify errors and omissions—in some cases preventing unnecessary tests, thus saving time and money. Patients also describe being able to make plans around the time of death with compassion and dignity.
