Keck Medicine of USC is taking its medical record to the next level with myUSCchart, a new electronic portal that allows patients to access their health information from a computer or smartphone.
The portal launched July 1, and it provides patients with a secure, private way to view their medical history, check lab test results, send and receive messages with their doctor, request appointments, manage prescriptions and more, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Other features include patient biometrics (weight, blood pressure, etc.), immunization records, clinical care summaries and patient education.
“MyUSCchart allows patients to access information when they want, where they want,” said Josh Lee, MD, chief information officer for USC Health. “Historically, providers have been the keeper of information. We hold the results, we hold the medical record, and patients have to call us to request access to their own personal health history. MyUSCchart gives them more control and makes them a more active partner in their care.”
Patient data is posted online within 36 hours of a patient’s inpatient discharge, or within 96 hours of an office visit. And signing up is easy — patients just need to provide their name, date of birth, email address and zip code to a Keck Medicine staff member, and they will receive a registration invitation in their email prompting them to complete creation of their account.
For patients, the application will enhance safety and quality by increasing clinical effectiveness and allowing for better coordination of care, said Laurie Johnson, executive administrator of ambulatory care services.
For staff and physicians, the benefit is also multi-pronged.
“It means fewer phone calls and easy, efficient communication with patients online,” Johnson said. “We can message patients about follow-up items, and recommendations. We can attach test results to messages and quickly share vital information that may be critical to a patient’s care.”
To learn more, visit myUSCchart.KeckMedicine.org.
— By Tania Chatila