Smartphone app, electronic portal to allow U-M Health System patients more access to records
Editor's note: This story has been edited to show when the University of Michigan Health System made the switch to electronic hospital records.
Screenshots of the free MyChart app, developed by Epic Systems, that will be available to University of Michigan Health System patients beginning Aug. 15. Patients can access parts of their medical records, test results and doctor's appointments on their smart phones.
Courtesy of iTunes
Beginning Aug. 15, certain portions of patients’ medical history will be available online and on an app. The app, called MyChart, is free and can be found under the “Medical” category in the app store.
At this point, the online portal — called www.myuofmhealth.org — only includes information on parts of the patient’s history that happen at UMHS.
The patient portal and app are available through UMHS’ contract with Epic Systems, a Madison-based health record software firm.
UMHS switched to an all-electronic records system about a decade ago and has been transitioning to the Epic system throughout this year.
During UMHS' fiscal year-end budget presentation to the U-M Board of Regents in June, the switch to the Epic software was included as a part of expenses that UMHS officials said contributed to its 0.5 percent operating loss. UMHS has used an electronic system for their hospital records for more than a decade.
St. Joseph Mercy Health System made the transition to electronic records in 2009 and uses the software provider Cerner.
Many health systems in Michigan that use the Epic software have offered or will offer MyChart, according to an Epic spokeswoman.
Active immunizations and allergies can be viewed in the portal, as well as test results. Family medical history and any social history given to U-M staff will be put into the portal after a clinic visit.
People with asthma and other conditions that require frequent medication refills can fill out online requests for prescription renewals.
Records of vaccinations, medications, allergies and some medical history also can be printed out directly from the portal.
Patients can keep track of their appointments, and can access some test results and doctor’s opinions through the app or the online portal as they become available.
A messaging function between the patient and the doctor’s office also is intended to eliminate phone calls.
“This allows patients to become more active participants in their care,” according to a statement from Dr. Margaret Punch, associate medical director of the Faculty Group Practice Ambulatory Care Services and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at U-M Medical School.
“Allowing secure, online access to health information is really just a reflection of everything else happening in society as consumers come to expect convenient access to most services. We know that patients want accurate and timely information.”
Comments
Scott
Mon, Aug 27, 2012 : 12:31 p.m.
And how does this make more money for the administrators , doctors, health care corporations and big Pharma? That's all that matters. This is America.
julieswhimsies
Sat, Aug 18, 2012 : 2:26 a.m.
I HIGHLY suggest you get your access code and review your information. I had a bunch of procedures on my list, that never happened. Varicose veins procedure? Nope. I've been told I have great legs. Joint/bursa drained? Never happened. Angioplasty. um NOoooo! This site is a mess of misinformation, that could be called Medicare and insurance fraud. I am not kidding. If this happened to me, It could have happened to you. If you find errors, report them to Hospital Administration. I'm looking for a lawyer.
a2cents
Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 3:39 p.m.
It's 08/15 and the app does not list uom... problem in paradise?
julieswhimsies
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
Will I be able to access my records via computer?
Geez
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.
I wonder how much they are going to charge for this now and how long of a delay there will still be with the records. Right now they charge better than a buck a page and it will take a month to get anything from them and thats if the doctor moves quickly. But they still send and bill for needless pages just to make a profit. What a rip! And for you folks that dont request your records after an appointment you probably should. In my experiences the doctors normally state that they covered things they didn't or offered treatments when they didn't.
julieswhimsies
Sat, Aug 18, 2012 : 2:29 a.m.
You are absolutely right, Geez. My record had all kinds of procedures that never happened. Doctors also routinely charge for extended visits, when the visit was quite short, It really is (allegedly) insurance fraud.
Margaret Goodrich
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.
Get with it U of M.....Cleveland Clinic has had MyChart for some time!
xmo
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
The trouble is that now Doctors and other staff members can look at your medical records but still cannot see the whole picture because they are not trained to. The medical profession treat symptoms and very rarely do they ever treat the problem.
Indymama
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
My question: Will older records also be available? Can tests done many years ago with a resulting diagnosis be available also?...or will only recent records be on line. I'm talking 1970's era.
Amy Biolchini
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.
I asked the UMHS staff that question and they said test results would only be available for the past three years.
Rugeirn Drienborough
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 12:56 p.m.
As of just now, myuofmhealth.org doesn't open.
Indymama
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.
It won't until August 15th ..at least that is what the article said. This is August 14th!! :-)
Sparty
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 2:08 p.m.
8/15 is tomorrow, Wedmesday. LoL.
PatD
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
It appears that the MyChart is an iPhone app. Is there an android version? If not,will there be one?
Amy Biolchini
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
Good question. There is an Android version as well.
seldon
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 12:05 p.m.
You're making it sound like St. Joe's had electronic records before U-M did. That isn't true. U-M has had electronic records since the late 90's, they just had their own system called CareWeb. MyChart is a more modern system which does more, so they're upgrading.
Amy Biolchini
Tue, Aug 14, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
My apologies, I had asked that question and had intended to include it with the article. I'll make the edit. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.