Doctors now must provide patients their health data, online and on demand
Last summer, Anna Ramsey suffered a flare-up of juvenile dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune condition, posing a terrifying prospect for the Los Angeles resident: She might have to undergo chemotherapy, further compromising her immune system during a pandemic.
After an agonizing three-day wait, the results of a blood test came back in her online patient portal but she didn’t understand them. As hours passed, Ramsey bit her nails and paced. The next day, she gave in and emailed her doctor, who responded with an explanation and a plan.
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When Anna Ramsey suffered a flare-up of juvenile dermatomyositis, she feared it would lead to chemotherapy treatment that could compromise her already fragile immune system in the midst of a pandemic.
The Los Angeles resident waited three agonizing days for the results of a blood test to appear in her online patient portal but she didn’t understand them. After an anxious night, she gave in and emailed her doctor, who responded with an explanation and a plan.
For Ramsey, now 24, the system was a mixed blessing. While she appreciates the quick access to her test results, she said she’s rather have an interpretation she can understand, “even if it takes a few days longer.”