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[punchnpie]

I went to the endo today and he asked if I was on the hospital's online system (I was not). I just signed on and am amazed at the info I can get - all my scripts, my visits, my general history, etc. Now of course, this is my info and there's no reason I shouldn't have it, but being the geek gal that I am, I love seeing it online. I can even order a new script through them and forwarded to my pharmacist.

I'm sure there are some policy/privacy issues, and there was a heck of a disclaimer to sign, but I'm pretty pleased. I'm thinking of having someone from the service talk to my policy class because I'm sure they had to work through some major issues before roll out.

Does anyone use a similar system? Pros/cons? May this has been around in a lot of places and is only now reaching the cornfields?

[concordancia]

My insurance company keeps this all online.

What I want, however, is the ability to see my own lab results. Everyone around here puts them on a phone system. I just went through around of bloodwork and all I know is that it was "normal." High normal? Low normal? No idea.

[punchnpie]

The doc said I'd be able to see my lab results, maybe before he even sees them. Cool. I didn't look around for prior results since I had a print out from a previous visit.

Interestingly, my internist said I could get off of the prescription level Vit D, but when I read the lab results, I wasn't satisfied and stayed on it until today's visit. The endo agreed with me and we're just waiting for my lab results to see if the dosage needs to be changed. Stuff like this makes me want to be in control of my own records even more. If I hadn't seen the lab report, with the indication that I was still in the low range, I would have believed the internist (who's just a resident anyway).

[concordancia]

The doc said I'd be able to see my lab results, maybe before he even sees them. Cool. I didn't look around for prior results since I had a print out from a previous visit.

Interestingly, my internist said I could get off of the prescription level Vit D, but when I read the lab results, I wasn't satisfied and stayed on it until today's visit. The endo agreed with me and we're just waiting for my lab results to see if the dosage needs to be changed. Stuff like this makes me want to be in control of my own records even more. If I hadn't seen the lab report, with the indication that I was still in the low range, I would have believed the internist (who's just a resident anyway).

Exactly! I was told my hemoglobin was normal, but on all previous occasions, it has been borderline high, suggesting that my normal is slightly skewed. Therefore, low normal would have explained how I was feeling at the time. It is a moot point - I stopped bleeding to death, ate lots of apricots and other iron rich foods and feel fine now, but I WANT TO KNOW!!

[history_grrrl]

Because I've moved around so much, and because I have a medical condition that involves seeing specialists in several different areas, I have always asked for copies of stuff like this. I don't usually know what everything means, but if I know the main thing to look for, I can make comparisons over time. In fact, a few years ago I was the one who asked my cardiologist if I should see a cardiac surgeon, based on my latest results. He agreed and referred me, but I'm not sure he would have initiated that conversation himself (though he should have).

At a couple of different points, I've even submitted records requests to doctors who saw me when I was a kid. It's useful not only for my own knowledge but also because I can give a record of my medical history to whoever needs it.

[debwilkes]

I was thinking that Obama signed into law when he first got into office, a law that would put all our medical records online. I haven't read anything new on it and what progress has been made but I was thinking this would be for all U.S. citizens. I think it's great because I hate having to transport my medical records with me when I move to another city. It would much easier to just have my new doctor access them online.