Navigating the process of accessing a family member’s medical record or granting them access can be a bit overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Unlike what many might expect, giving another family member access isn’t automatic at any office or hospital. However, there are numerous reasons why families seek to share health information, including:
- A child with a chronic condition heading to college
- An adult child living with a disability or condition needing support
- An adult child living out of state helping transition an older adult from hospital to home
- Someone preparing for surgery
- A spouse or friend living with an advancing illness or condition
- A child turning 12 or older, depending on state laws
Proxy access allows you to share access to your or another person’s medical records. It’s important to note that this doesn’t grant medical decision-making power when used in patient portals. The process for obtaining proxy access can vary widely across the United States. In this blog, we’ll delve into why sharing access matters, share real-life stories, and provide helpful tips.
Why Is Sharing Medical Records Important?
As more health information becomes available online, families increasingly seek proxy access. Unfortunately, this information isn’t always in one place or accessible to every healthcare provider, prompting many families to create medical binders. Typically, health information is shared only upon request, causing delays that affect care and costs for patients and their supporting families.
While you can request paper medical records, proxy access via patient portals is more efficient. It allows families to receive alerts about appointments, view labs, images, past visit notes, and easily communicate with healthcare teams. Without easy access to health information, family caregivers are often left in the dark about critical details. This lack of information can lead to:
- Frequent calls to the doctor’s office with questions
- Multiple follow-up appointments to seek answers
- Urgent care or ER visits with family members
- Consulting various healthcare providers and services for assistance
Understanding and utilizing proxy access can help families stay informed and provide better support to their loved ones.
Stories of Sharing Access to Medical Records
OpenNotes is an international movement promoting transparent communication in healthcare. It is a movement that began in 2010 with the goal of enhancing transparency in healthcare by allowing patients to access their healthcare providers’ notes.
Story 1: A Wife’s Journey to Share Access for Surgery
Liz Salmi shares her challenging experience of giving her husband, Brett, proxy access for her upcoming surgery. While Liz doesn’t recommend the workaround they used, sometimes sharing usernames and passwords can be the quickest solution.
Story 2: A Doctor’s Challenge Helping Aging Family Members
Dr. David Dorr, an internal medicine doctor and Chief Research Information Officer at Oregon Health & Science University, faced different challenges while helping his aging aunt and mother.
Story 3: A Family’s Journey to Share Health Information
Troubleshooting Proxy Access
If the family member can’t grant proxy access easily:
- Call the Office: Explain your need for shared access and ask to speak with someone who can help with proxy access.
- Verbal Consent: If the patient can communicate, arrange a three-way call with the office for verbal consent.
- Legal Paperwork: Ask about guardianship or healthcare power of attorney paperwork for patients with cognitive impairments.
Patience is Key: Front-line staff might not have the training to assist with proxy access, so persistence is essential to find the right person to help.
Conclusion
Navigating the complexities of accessing and sharing medical records can be challenging, but proxy access via patient portals offers a streamlined solution for families. Whether you’re preparing for a child’s transition to college, supporting an adult with a disability, or helping an elderly family member, understanding how to grant and obtain proxy access is essential for effective care coordination.
If you find yourself managing multiple proxy accesses or patient portals, consider exploring Primary Record. Our solutions can simplify the process, ensuring you have easy, centralized access to your family’s health information, making it easier to provide the support and care they need.
