Why Would Patients Want Access To Their Medical Records

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• Why Would Patients Want Access To Their Medical
  Records?

Yvonne M Bennett
See comments under slides
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Is it because we dont trust doctors?

• No its not
• at least most of them
• we may occasional feel that some should have
  paid more attention in medical school
• Its the system in which they work we dont trust
  and not just missing notes
• Its also the human error factor
• Let me clarify that

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Patient A

• Appointment at Hospital X referred to
  specialist Hospital Y for dental treatment
• Arrives At Hospital Y
• 1st appt Cant be seen because the notes havent
  been sent from Hospital X
• 2nd appt Cant be seen, got the notes but not the
  x-rays
• 3rd appt Seen and given appointment for treatment
• 4th appt Receives treatment
• 2 appointments wasted
• 2 days off work
• Longer patient waiting list
• Pain for a minimum of 4 weeks

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Patient B

• Visits GP dismissed problems all in the
  mind
• Moves abroad, notes follow same diagnosis
• Moves back to UK, to Midlands, notes follow
  same diagnosis
• Moves to the North, notes follow same diagnosis
• Patient pays to see Specialist
• Diagnosed with Lupus

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This took 20 years!

• The reason?
• Information of an overdose attempt
• Misfiled in records
• Patient with a similar name
• Different date of birth
• Patient treated as someone with mental health
  problems and problems ignored as not real

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Patient C Has Records Access

• Checked online last letter from hospital
• Appointment to be given in June
• Self-employed needs plenty of notice
• Rang hospital for details of appointment
• Appointment been sent out 2 weeks ago but not
  received.
• Details given confirmation resent
• Patient attended appointment

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Patient D Has Records Access

• Checked online letter from hospital consultant
• Demographics correct
• Body of letter about another patient
• Similarity in symptoms
• No change in medication so letter scanned into
  patients notes
• Only the patient could spot this error
• 2 patients with the same name see same Consultant
  for the same condition

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The Moral of the Tales?

• Had patient A B HAD Records Access
• A) Could have taken copies of relevant letters
  x-ray results from hospital X and not wasted 2
  appointments.
• B) Would have spotted wrong information in notes
  and save 20 years of suffering in 2 different
  countries
• Had patient C D NOT had Records Access
• C) Would have been discharged back to GP care
  for DNA and would have had see GP to go through a
  new referral procedure and then the waiting list
  at the hospital
• D) Nobody would have known the difference but the
  GP could have noticed the patient had not been
  given the medication and then prescribed
  medication as in the letter and not intended for
  her

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The Scary Bits!

• All the tales are true
• Patients A B both suffered
• Patients C D were able to sort things out and
  no harm was done because they were the ones with
  Records Access and in charge of their own health
• I didnt have to search for people with a tale to
  tell, there are so many
• Another patient waited for 1½ hours before being
  told she couldnt be seen without notes

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The Advantages to the Patient

• Time saving from anywhere in the world
• Order Prescriptions online
• Book appointments online
• Check results online
• Find accurate information of results and
  medication by following the links provided
• Take print out of relevant information
• A Partnership of Trust with GP
• Being responsible for their own health

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HealthSpace

• Basic Account Works well with RA
• Works as an organiser
• Can input readings such as BP, PF,BS
• Reminder of appointments
• Advanced Accounts
• Loaded up from wherever treated OOH, AE
• Access available at place of treatment
• Room for Medical Directive
• So much more

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What Some Doctors Say!

• It produces a 2 tier NHS service
• Those who have and those who dont have internet
  access
• Its an insult to the integrity of most doctors
  to suggest they would give a 2nd rate service
  because someone has internet access
• What it does mean that those patients with access
  who check results, letters etc leave appointments
  free for those without access and need to book an
  appointment to get their results etc!

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The End

• Thank You for listening