On April 5, 2021, the 21st Century Cures Act began requiring healthcare providers to give patients access to all health information without delay. This means that MyChart users are now able to see all of their lab, test, and imaging results as soon as they become available – often before your healthcare provider has the chance to see them. Previously, your healthcare provider would review results before they would be released to you through MyChart.
While some people are happy to see results immediately, others may be uncomfortable or anxious seeing results before a provider can interpret and explain them. If you would prefer not to see your results at the same time they are sent to your provider, please let your provider know when the lab or test is ordered so that he or she can hold the results until you can be contacted.
Here are some considerations when looking at results in MyChart:
- Be aware that you may see results that are difficult to understand or indicative of serious illness. For that reason, you may want to wait to learn your results until your provider contacts you.
- If you are concerned about test results, consider NOT looking in MyChart on a Friday. It can be frustrating to view results on a Friday afternoon because you will likely not be able to contact your provider with questions until Monday. This can make for a weekend filled with anxiety.
- Be aware that not all results marked as “abnormal” are of clinical concern.
The new law is all about ensuring that patients have timely access to their medical results. While this is positive, you may want to be thoughtful about when you access those results in MyChart.
Not signed up for MyChart yet? Sign up at your next appointment or online here.
7 Responses
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Thank you.
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This is a FANTASTIC TOOL.. Thanks! it’s about time!
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May I please request that you make it very easy to opt out of this “improvement” directly on the website? I am only getting around to reading the Reliant newsletter now, and had no idea this change was being made. I’m sure this change was well intended, but it will cause a lot of distress.
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Once the results have been automatically posted, how long will it be before the doctor, PA, NA etc reviews and posts comments?
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Hi John. It typically takes up to 2 business days. Sometimes, if everything is normal, physicians won’t add any comments.
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When I connect MyChart results with another Epic organization they cannot see my results. Why is that?
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Hi Ed. Linking MyChart accounts only allows you to view all of yoour information at one time. To allow other organizations to have access to your Reliant information, you can go to the Health Icon at the top and Share My Record and choose Allow other organizations to access your information.
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