In 2014, the federal government will take the next step and ramp up the pressure on healthcare providers to embrace electronic health records (EHR). The second stage of the meaningful use guidelines will require many hospitals and physician to meet these tough new standards or face payment cuts beginning in 2015.
A number of new requirements under stage 2 meaningful use will impact labs, both directly and indirectly. For providers moving onto this stage, at least 30% of lab orders must now be entered into the EHR through computerized physician order entry (CPOE), and 55% of orders must be received electronically in a structured data format. Providers must also show patient engagement by demonstrating that patients actively download or transmit their electronically accessed health information. This measure will increase the number of lab results being received electronically by physicians and hospitals. It will also lead to an increased interest in patients monitoring their lab results online.
As the leading technology provider for online access to health records, ViewMyHealthRecords.com has engineered our software to make it simple for patients to review their lab results online. Each time a patient has lab work completed by their healthcare provider an email alert is sent from ViewMyHealthRecords.com to alert the patient regarding the new lab results. The patient can follow the link in the email to login and review their electronic lab results. Thousands of healthcare professionals trust ViewMyHealthRecords.com to provide their patient 24/7 access to their health record.
If your healthcare provider is not currently providing online access to your health records then chances are they are not complying with these new federal guidelines. Granting online access to your health records is no longer an option but the law. To learn how you can access your health records online have your healthcare provider contact ViewMyHealthRecords.com.