The law allows you to access all your medical records, whether from in-office treatments or an online doctor visit. With modern technology, you can access all this information online in your healthcare provider’s patient portal.
There’s no limit to what information you can access, from your last doctor visit or a record from over ten years ago. Here’s everything you should know about accessing your previous doctor’s visit online:
Why Should You Get Your Medical Reports?
Medical reports offer key information on previous ailments and their corresponding treatments. Some family genes make members susceptible to given health complications, so this information will be included. Understanding your medical history will allow your doctor to provide better treatment and prescribe relevant screenings.
Understanding your allergies, medication history, personal habits, surgeries, and vaccinations makes it easy for your doctors to provide you with quality care. With this information, your doctor won’t have to start from scratch again, which can help you get quick health services.
The details can also give you control over your health and pursue habits that promote your well-being.
How Can I Access My Last Online Doctor Visit?
The HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability) Act of 1996 allows you to access copies of your health information. Your healthcare provider has no authority to deny you the chance to access this information.
The hard part comes when you want to access the details online. Some hospitals and clinics don’t have electronic medical reports (EMR). Accessing an online version of these documents can be a little tedious. You may have to manually request your records via a phone call, email, or visit the clinic.
That shouldn’t be a problem if you sought the last record from an online doctor visit. Virtual telehealth platforms function entirely online. All the information regarding your tests, diagnosis, and treatments is available on the internet.
Visit the clinic’s patient portal or website to access your required information. This tip works for physical hospitals and clinics with a website with all the information.
Here are the two simple alternatives to try:
Check the Hospital’s Online Patient Portal
Many online treatment platforms have a portal to help you access your medical history details. Check if your provider has one, and browse through to see if the details you need are in the personal health record (PHR).
The patient portal is secure and allows you to carry out health-related tasks like scheduling appointments. Some hospitals don’t have it, or you may not find what you need on the available portal.
Consider the following alternative if that’s the case:
Visit the Hospital’s Website
The website most likely contains something that points you to the information you want.
Go to the Contact Us part of the provider’s website. You’ll find items like a form, an online portal, an email, or a phone number to reach the customer support team.
Fill out the form, or leave them a message with your:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Contacts and address
- Email address
- The list of records you want
- Date of your last doctor visit (or dates of services if you need more records)
- Form of Delivery (Email, text message, or phone call)
- Your signature
You’ll likely find the health record within 30 to 60 days or even less. Sending the details to a third party could take longer than the HIPAA-authorized wait time.
Bottom Line
Medical records are key healthcare tools. You can ease your access by considering an online doctor visit, especially from a telehealth provider.
You can check your physical hospital’s website and check if they have an online patient portal. Contacting them from the website will make it easy to get the details virtually.