How to View Your Medical Records Online

Technological advances have led to the ability to do a number of things online, including accessing your medical records. According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), while around 84 percent of patients are confident that their health information is being kept private and secure by their providers, 66 percent have concerns about the electronic exchange of this situation. While health care providers -- who are mandated to both keep your information safe from being viewed by third parties while simultaneously being required to provide you with access to your medical records -- are now required to provide patients easier access to their medical records through patient portals, many patients are saying: Wait a minute.

Are you on the fence about viewing your medical records online? DoNotPay provides you with a way to easily access hard copies of your records without having them electronically transferred from a website or mobile app.

The Push for Electronic Access to Patient Records

In recent years, the federal government has aimed to increase the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information by patients and their caregivers. It is estimated that about 60 percent of patients have been given access to their medical records electronically, and nearly 40 percent have accessed an electronic medical record in a year's time. About 40 percent of patient portal users have accessed their electronic medical records through a smartphone app.

What Is a Patient Portal?

A patient portal is defined as a secure online website that gives patients constant access to their medical records and other personal health information. These websites provide access through a secure username and password in order to see information such as:

• Recent doctor visits
• Discharge summaries
• Immunizations
• Allergies

Many patient portals also offer the ability to schedule appointments, securely message your doctor, make payments, and download forms that you need to give to the doctor at your next appointment.

How to Access Your Medical Records Online

In order to view your medical records online, follow these steps:

• Find out if the health provider you use has an online portal. This information should be provided on the facility's website or by asking your physician or the front desk personnel at the medical facility you're requesting medical records from.
• If there is a patient portal available, either facility staff or the facility's website should provide information on how to access the portal.
• If you are unable to obtain the medical records you need online, you can ask your provider what the process is for seeking a paper copy of your health records.

Is Online Access to Medical Records Free?

Since April 2021, health care providers have been federally required to offer patients free access to medical records through an online portal. Federal laws dictate that providers can only charge you a reasonable fee for the provision of a paper copy of your health record or an electronic media copy on a digital storage devices such as a CD or thumb drive.

Three Problems Encountered When Attempting to Access Medical Records Online

Those attempting to access their medical records online often run into issues, including these three.

1. The website or app is down or too many users are attempting to access it at once. Generally, these issues are temporary. However, some patients have reported repeated issues that keep them from logging in or prevent them from requesting records.
2. The records they are interested in viewing are not available on the portal, resulting in further calls to the provider and requests for assistance.
3. The records are in electronic form. Many people, particularly those who are older, have difficulty reading documents in an electronic format. Just as many readers love the feel of an actual book in their hands instead of an eBook on a mobile device, many patients prefer a hard copy of their medical records for easier reading and the ability to quickly consult the document without logging on to an app or website.

How DoNotPay Can Make Obtaining Your Medical Records Easier

Have you tried the patient portal your health care provider offers and found the experience to be frustrating and time-consuming? DoNotPay can help you obtain a paper copy of your medical records in three simple steps.

1. Look up medical records on DoNotPay's website.

    

2. Enter the name of the health care provider you'd like to receive medical records from.

    

3. Answer a few questions about your provider and where you'd like to send the records.

    

We will send a carefully crafted letter to your medical provider, requesting a copy of your medical records. You can expect to receive your records in about a week.

DoNotPay Makes a Lot of Things Easier

New doesn't always mean better. Many people want access to a hard copy of their medical records, and DoNotPay can help you with that. We can help you with a number of tasks that require too much effort to fit into your busy life, such as helping you prepare an advance health care directive, file claims in small claims court, request sick leave from your workplace, or obtain a copy of your birth certificate to name a few. Learn more about the things you can do with DoNotPay by signing up or signing in today.